California lawyer and his wife are slain in their home
A long-time California lawyer and his wife were found fatally stabbed in their duplex condo on Sunday.
Oliver “Chip” Northup, 87, and his wife, Claudia Maupin, 76, were found after family members asked police to check on the couple, the Sacramento Bee reports. Family members were concerned because Northup did not show up for a Sunday performance with his folk group, the Putah Creek Crawdads.
Northup had practiced law for 63 years, the story says. He was working out of his home and had practiced criminal appellate law in his later years. He also gave seminars at the Yolo County Public Defender’s office, according to recently retired public defender Barry Melton. The lead guitarist of Country Joe and The Fish, Melton said he had sung with Northup and he was a great tenor.
“He’s one of the nicest, kindest, sweetest people I ever met,” Melton told the Sacramento Bee.
Claudia Maupin had been involved in local theater, News10.com reports. Both were members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Davis.
Davis police Lt. Paul Doroshov said there were signs of forced entry to the home, but it had not been ransacked. “We can’t say this was a burglary,” he told the Sacramento Bee.
Story updated on June 18 to correct spelling of lawyer’s name on second reference.
