Iovenitti Held Without Bail After Wife Found Dead In Concord Home

Thomas John Iovenitti appeared in court Wednesday without entering a plea on a murder charge in the death of his wife, Alisha Iovenitti. He remains jailed in Martinez without bail, and his next court date is set for Nov. 12.

Officers responded at 8:51 p.m. Friday to a reported disturbance in the 2300 block of Panoramic Drive. The caller described a fight between a man and a woman and said the man held a knife. Police found no response from inside, forced entry, and located two people with stab wounds. Alisha Iovenitti died at the scene; Thomas Iovenitti went to a hospital.

Neighbors told reporters the couple's three children rode bikes and played outside the single-story home after Friday. Police said witness information indicated no outstanding suspects and no ongoing threat to public safety.

Investigators initially reported that both people fought with a knife. Police later said Thomas Iovenitti stabbed himself as officers entered the house.

Prosecutors filed four felony counts against him: murder, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, assault with a deadly weapon involving a knife, and corporal injury to a spouse. Five misdemeanor counts accompany those charges: one count of violating a court order and four counts of child endangerment. Three child endangerment counts date to Oct. 23, and one dates to May 9. If convicted, the maximum sentence is 29 years to life.

A separate domestic violence case stems from May 9. A judge set bail at $1,000 on May 19 over prosecutors' objections, barred Iovenitti from contacting his wife, and prohibited him from returning to the family home, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Detective Justin Wilson can be reached at 925-603-5859, and anonymous tips go to 925-603-5836.