A Tucson man told police he strangled his live-in partner during an argument over his sobriety, according to a court filing.
Sometime between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, Sandra Joyce Rae-Hansen, 74, and her live-in partner, Steven Joseph Birch, 66, got into a fight over his relapse of alcohol use after up to three years of sobriety, according to an interim complaint filed in Pima County Justice Court.
Rae-Hansen planned to stay in a hotel that evening without discussing the finances surrounding the decision, the complaint says. An argument ensued in which Birch said he choked Rae-Hansen, the filing says.
Birch told police that Rae-Hansen was able to speak at this point and told him to leave the house. As he walked away, she threw a shoe and struck him in the back, Birch told police. Birch turned around and choked Rae-Hansen for a second time and killed her, the complaint says.
Coworkers went to their residence in the 1600 block of East Prince Road, between North Campbell and North Mountain avenues, on Wednesday after Rae-Hansen failed to go to work.
She had apparently missed three shifts from Dec. 1-3, the complaint says.
The coworkers called police after Birch answered the front door and told them he had killed Rae-Hansen, the complaint says. Officers found Rae-Hansen’s body inside.
Birch showed signs of intoxication during questioning by police and admitted to killing Rae-Hansen, the complaint said.
Birch was booked in the Pima County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.
