D Street Deaths Were Murder-Suicide Says Eureka Police

Hodgson to e is blocked to through traffic

Law enforcement near the D Street residence where the murder-suicide occurred according to Eureka Police. [Photo by Stormy Taylor]

Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On August 3, 2018, at about 8:08 p.m., officers of the Eureka Police Department (EPD) responded to the 3200 block of D Street for a welfare check call.

Based on the totality of the circumstances, officers ultimately forced entry into the residence and began checking the interior.

Upon entering a bedroom of the residence, officers located a deceased female laying on the floor. The female had multiple lacerations about her upper torso and head. A deceased male was found hanging nearby in the closet. The male had superficial lacerations to his wrists. Located on the bed was the decedent’s 7 month old child. The child appeared uninjured, but was transported to St. Joseph ER for medical evaluation. The child was determined to be in good health and was released to Child Welfare Services staff.

Due to the extent of the injuries to the female, a visual positive identification could not be determined and identification would have to be made by means of fingerprint results.

On August 8, 2018, autopsies were conducted and positive identification was released by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office.

The female was identified as Astraia Marie Muir (39 Years old). The cause of death was determined to be murder, by means of multiple incised wounds.

The male was identified as Matthew Orion Julius Muir (42 Years old). The cause of death was determined to be suicide, by means of asphyxia.

Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Senior Detective Cosetti at 707-441-4315.

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29 Comments
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Friend
Guest
Friend
5 years ago
Tracy F
Guest
Tracy F
5 years ago

What a tragedy. What a sad beginning to life for this child. On the positive: I’m glad the child is uninjured and may now start a new life in a better family.

Seriously
Guest
Seriously
5 years ago
Reply to  Tracy F

Are you implying that the infant and 12 year old children are better off with someone else because itvtheir moms fault she was murdered?

laura cooskey
Guest
laura cooskey
5 years ago
Reply to  Seriously

Seriously, no, Tracy F said exactly what she said. She did not say it was anyone’s fault. Please don’t pick people apart when they are trying to find any solace at all in the situation at hand. OBVIOUSLY it’s not the mom’s fault she was murdered, but i would say the child (children?) are also OBVIOUSLY likely to be in a much better situation with a new family, because this one had violent anger, murder, and suicide waiting in the wings and in fact, realized.
Give people a break for saying innocent, hopeful things!

Diamond
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Tracy F

Domestic Violence! The murderer is a creep! He stabbed her so many times in the face she was unrecognizable!

DV is not that mom’s fault. She filed for divorce and it got her killed! And some people have the audacity to ask “why do women stay in DV relationships”.

God bless her and her children. May the murderer rot!

Tammy
Guest
Tammy
5 years ago

So sad praying for the family and the baby .

Dawn
Guest
Dawn
5 years ago

I really hope that baby was too young to have seen/remembered any of that horror. Damned lucky s/he didn’t fall off the bed. Either of mine would have at that age.

Tina B
Guest
Tina B
5 years ago

I feel as though this report is despicable and unnecessary. The general public does not need to know how a person’s (mother, sister,daughter ect) body was found and that it was unrecognizable visually! Family and love ones are going to be reading this also and this report will be forever in the Internet to view. Fishing For views is ridiculous!!

Tina B
Guest
Tina B
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I understand it’s a press release from another agency but things can be redacted. Anyway just my point of view. Still love redheaded blackbelt

Diamond
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Tina B

What do you mean don’t describe how the body was found?! The family is actually required to identify the loved ones body. ..pretty sure that means they have to look at it; Which is considerably worse than reading a description.

leh@eth123.com
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thank you for posting the source. It’s important.

guest 34
Guest
guest 34
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thank you for posting the source Kym. It’s important IMO.

Lone ranger
Guest
Lone ranger
5 years ago
Reply to  Tina B

It’s good for people to see the backside of domestic violence, so guys like this can be handled before this happens

Al
Guest
Al
5 years ago
Reply to  Lone ranger

Well put, Lone Ranger.

Lazydaze
Guest
Lazydaze
5 years ago
Reply to  Tina B

Kim is merely sharing EPD’s press release as all other news sources did.

Often it is detailed stories like this that can motivate other women affected by domestic violence to leave their situation, or motivate family or friends to encourage a woman affected by DV to leave(or to report it). the harsh reality of the outcome of DV is often swept under the carpet out of respect for the victim and as a result the truth is rarely exposed.

If I were murdered so grotesquely by my husband I would WANT my story heard by the world in hopes it would motivate at least one woman living in fear to walk away, NOW, and seek help.

If any one of those women(or yes, men) or their family, friends or neighbors are reading this right now, please stop what you are doing and call 443-6042 or 866-668-6543, or visit hdvs.org. There are compassionate professional people with a high regard for confidentiality and your safety who are very eager to help you, 24 hours a day. Please reach out immediately.

Anotherinterpretation
Guest
Anotherinterpretation
5 years ago
Reply to  Tina B

Disagree – the truth is important.

Downrivergirl
Guest
Downrivergirl
5 years ago
Reply to  Tina B

It’s the news don’t read it if you don’t want to know the facts.

R
Guest
R
5 years ago

The press release is NOT from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, rather, Eureka PD.

Fortunian
Guest
Fortunian
5 years ago

Kym, these kind of people will find anything they can to bitch about. Don’t worry about them. You did not write it personally, it was a press release from an official department regardless who released it.
You people need to get a life and leave Kym alone. If you don’t like what is in the Redheaded Blackbelt don’t read it.

Tina B
Guest
Tina B
5 years ago
Reply to  Fortunian

As i said things can be redacted. As i also said i love redheaded black belt I guess I just hold can to a higher standard she always has good information I’m not bitching. JS

J
Guest
J
5 years ago
Reply to  Tina B

Be upset that the world is this way, but you can’t be mad that the news reports crime. We as a public prefer that reporters do not pick and choose what they think we should hear but instead give us the facts.

In my 1911 I trust
Guest
In my 1911 I trust
5 years ago
Reply to  Tina B

Nothing should be redacted. It was a press release from the eureka police, nothing from police dept or other public places should be redacted or kept from public. Maybe the names of the individuals concerned if it is truly sensitive. Thank you for your reporting Kym. On another note, prayers for the child and family.

Anon
Guest
Anon
5 years ago

I too cringed at the descriptor used and thought it could maybe have been made less gorey or softened by EPD, but the facts are the facts.

Fact: A woman’s greatest risk of murder is not by a random stranger but by HER SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

So while this report is painful to read, i support. RIP Astraia Muir

#breakthesilence

Shel
Guest
Shel
5 years ago
Reply to  Anon

Yes, I totally support this type of truthful reporting! Some times it is a wake up call that they need or situation they can relate to and identify with. Too many women, when in this situation are in denial: oh, he didn’t mean it; oh, he’ll change; oh, he said he was sorry, wouldn’t do it again … if I just love him hard enough or worse yet, feeling that there is no way out because of the children. There is help! There are people who care! There are people who will help you and your children! Its hard, its scary and it takes a great deal of courage to break out but do it! Take your children and go! We have too many spousal/partener abuse.
Men: if you have a spouse/partner who is violent, abusive and out of control harming you, your children … you too can seek support and don’t feel that you have to be ‘a man’ and deal just with it! Some situations are too big for one person alone! The main thing is to get your children and yourself quickly out of the situation and receive help/support … its the best thing you can do for yourself AND your children whether you are male or female in a violent relationship!

Things that make you go hmm
Guest
Things that make you go hmm
5 years ago

And no, I’m pretty sure you can’t change and or redact what has been issued in a press release by any State/city/county or Federal entity.

Tony Beron
Guest
5 years ago

Astraia was a wonderful woman who should never have suffered the horrible attack. Her smile and presence were like sunshine, and I feel blessed to have met her. She was an angel.