UPDATE: Claiming to have just killed his wife, Redding man fatally stabs self in front of officers – Both now ID’d

August 4, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 3:05 p.m., With coroner’s release of victim’s names and additional details released by authorities.

Originally published Tuesday, Aug. 4, 11:55 a.m.

REDDING, Calif. — Officials today are continuing a murder-suicide investigation, after a man allegedly murdered his wife before turning a knife on himself. Authorities say the alleged suspect repeatedly and fatally stabbed himself in front of officers who responded to the early morning call Tuesday, August 4.

Despite being rushed to an area hospital, the man died as a result of the fatal incident; which happened at a private residence on the 1600 block of Spanish Bay Dr., just south of the Gold Hills Golf Club and Salt Creek. The man’s wife died at the home where the incident occurred.

Officials say the couple had a long history of domestic violence and that officers had responded to their home nine times over the last two years.

Three of those reported incidents ended with the husband’s arrest, according to authorities who have since reported that when the murder-suicide occurred the husband was still awaiting court proceedings related to his earlier arrests.

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City of Redding police officers responded to the home around 2:20 a.m., after concerned family members requested a welfare check of the home’s residents, described early in the investigation by Redding Police Sgt. Danny Smetak as a husband and wife.

“A family member of the couple called SHASCOM stating they received a voicemail from the husband advising he had killed his wife and was going to end his own life,” Smetak later said of the deadly incident and subsequent investigation.

When officers arrived in the residential neighborhood and attempted to make contact with the husband at the front door of the home, they reported that the man “was uncooperative, had armed himself with a knife, and made statements he wanted to die,” explained Smetak.

“While some officers were negotiating with the husband, other officers went to the rear of the home and began looking through the windows in an attempt to locate the wife,” the Sgt. continued. “While doing so, they observed her unconscious on the living room floor … with obvious signs of trauma.”

Despite the imminent danger to themselves, officers quickly entered the home in an attempt to rescue and render medical aid to the victim, but discovered she had already succumbed to her injuries and passed away.

When the husband realized officers had secretly entered the home, he began advancing toward them while stabbing himself repeatedly with the knife he had been holding.

The man was stopped when officers fired a less-lethal Taser at him, knocking him to the ground and giving officers a chance to handcuff and detain him.

After securing the husband officers began providing him medical attention and summoned an ambulance to the scene. He was then rushed to Mercy Medical Center where he later died of his self-inflicted knife injuries, according to Smetak.

Shasta County Chief Deputy Coroner Lt. Stonehouse has since identified the husband as 79-year-old, Edwin Pehr Fredrickson. His victim and wife has been identified as 62-year-old Elizabeth Ann Fredrickson.

“Due to the complex crime scene, the Redding Police Department requested assistance from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, Shasta County District Attorney Investigators and the Anderson Police Department,” said Smetak.

During their subsequent investigation, officials located various items of evidence, including a hand-written note from the husband in which he reportedly confessed to killing his wife.

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Redding PD has since reported that officers were familiar with the couple, due to numerous calls for service at the home.

“Since 2018, officers responded to the residence nine times, three of which ended with the husband being arrested for domestic violence-related crimes,” Smetak explained; saying, “During each of his arrests, the wife was offered resources for domestic violence victims.”

“At the time of his death, the husband was still awaiting his next court proceedings for the domestic violence charges,” Smetak continued.

Redding PD’s investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to immediately contact Redding Police Department’s Investigations Division at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 20R048571 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.