FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Suspect Venko Gospodinov

IN-CUSTODY

On Sunday, October 5th, 2025, at approximately 2:49 AM,  San José Police Department Officers responded to a residence in the 900 block of Wainwright Drive for a report of a suspicious circumstance. The reporting party, the victim’s adult son, told police he found his mother deceased. Officers arrived on scene and located the adult female victim inside the residence, who was obviously deceased and showed signs of trauma.

Homicide Detectives responded to the scene and quickly identified Venko Gospodinov as the primary suspect. Utilizing ALPR data, Detectives learned that Suspect Gospodinov may have been in the Capitola area and notified local agencies. Officers with the California Highway Patrol located Suspect Gospodinov in the city of Capitola shortly after and took him into custody without incident. He was subsequently transferred to the custody of SJPD and transported back to the city of San José where he was ultimately booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for murder. 

The motive and circumstances surrounding the event are still under investigation.  

The identity of the victim will be released by the Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner.

This incident is being investigated as the City's 22nd homicide of 2025.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Varela #3638 or Detective Montoya #3644 of the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit via email: 3638@sanjoseca.gov and/or 3644@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-277-5283.

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.