"He seemed very quiet and mind his own business." Said neighbor Deborah Hodge.
Jose De Jesus Hernandez called for help around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday and told authorities he had stabbed his wife, according to a National City police statement. He was still at the residence on I Street near E 26th Street when police officers arrived.
Officers found his 38-year-old wife, Angelina Maria Hernandez, unresponsive and suffering from a stab wound to her chest. Police and paramedics attempted to revive her, but she died at the scene, police said.
Hernandez was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder based on statements he made and evidence at the scene, according to the statement. He has since been booked into the San Diego Central Jail.
Hodge says there was no indication of domestic abuse and that Hernandez was very nice, "he has three little girls and they would play out here on the street on their bikes while he would clean his car or work on his car. He always waved and said hello."
Hernandez is a Mexican National here legally on a permanent work visa. His wife was American. The three children were with their grandparents at the time of the incident. They will remain there until further notice.
