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Richmond ‘exorcism’ turns deadly

A suspected crime of passion quickly turned into a horror movie Tuesday, when a 35-year-old El Sobrante woman was arrested after allegedly smothering a romantic rival.

Karla Kuhl claimed she was merely trying to perform an exorcism on Patricia Madeiros, a woman with whom she shared a “common boyfriend.” Kuhl has been charged with murder in Medeiros’ death.

Police found Medeiros dead in her East Richmond Heights home when responding to an emergency medical call around 5 a.m. Tuesday.

During an early-morning fight about the boyfriend, Kuhl allegedly smothered Medeiros on the couch. The boyfriend has not been identified, and senior deputy district attorney Harold Jewett said the nature of his relationships with the women are “murky.”

Detectives arrested Kuhl in El Sobrante Tuesday without incident. She was booked in the West County Jail in Richmond and held on $1 million bail. She appeared in Richmond Superior Court Wednesday.

Last modified July 20, 2012 9:44 am

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