Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Public Safety

Arraignment For Man Accused Of SDSU Faculty Member Murder Postponed

Mary Shojai was found dead Sunday shortly before 10 p.m. She was the director of the San Diego State University Student Disability Services and worked at the university for 37 years.
San Diego State University website
Mary Shojai was found dead Sunday shortly before 10 p.m. She was the director of the San Diego State University Student Disability Services and worked at the university for 37 years.

The arraignment of a 64-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering a San Diego State University faculty member was postponed due to a jail medical hold, according to the District Attorney's office.

Channel 10 News reported Paul Carl Tomasini, a handyman, was found outside Mary Shojai's home suffering from apparent stab wounds. The woman's body was inside the house. She died Sunday.

Tomasini and Shojai may have been dating, authorities said Wednesday.

Advertisement

Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance and possible fatality in the 10500 block of Strathmore Drive in Santee when they found Shojai's body before shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday.

Authorities have not disclosed how Shojai died or a suspected motive for the murder.

The SDSU NewsCenter wrote a memorial about Shojai's time at the university. She was the director of Student Disability Services and worked at SDSU for 37 years.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.