Local News in Brief : Van Nuys Man, 25, Arrested in Strangling of Wife at Hotel

A25-year-old Van Nuys man was arrested in Long Beach Thursday evening on suspicion of murder in the Feb. 16 strangulation of his estranged wife in Van Nuys, Los Angeles police said Friday.

Dennis James Cass, 25, was taken into custody without resistance at a friend’s home by police holding an arrest warrant. Police had received a tip that Cass was in the Long Beach area.

Lt. Al Durrer said police have physical evidence linking Cass to the death of his wife, Loretta M. Cass, 22, of Van Nuys, whose body was found in a room at the La Casitas Hotel. The body was

discovered by hotel employees investigating the couple’s failure to check out as scheduled, he said.

Detective Sandra Bobbitt said the slaying apparently stemmed from a domestic dispute. She said police believe Cass was trying to get back together with his wife “and she didn’t want to

reconcile.”