Suspect Arrested For
Douvan Court Homicide

On March 20, 2008, at 1:30 a.m. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Detectives arrested Sacramento-area resident Steven Arthur Duarte (51) for the murder of his 35-year-old ex-girlfriend, Serena Williams. Williams was discovered in her Douvan Court home unconscious and bleeding by her roommate on March 19, 2008. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The Coroner has determined Williams died as the result of a gunshot wound.

Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives identified Duarte as a suspect and worked with Major Crimes Detectives to track him to a relative’s house in Wheatland, California. Duarte was arrested at that house without incident. Detectives believe an ongoing dispute between the former girlfriend and boyfriend led to the murder.

Duarte was charged with murder and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for March 24, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. in Department 63.

Do to the ongoing nature of the investigation; Duarte’s booking photo cannot be released at this time.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman