Suspicious Death Investigation Update

Press Release Update from the Brisbane Police Department (3/2/2016)

On February 28, 2016, additional remains were located along the shoreline near the Dumbarton Bridge. With this new evidence, the Alameda County Coroner’s Office was able to positively identify the remains found on February 21, 2016 near the Dumbarton Pier as belonging to Shelly Titchener. The identification was made by a fingerprint match. There are still remains yet to be discovered and recovered. We are not commenting any further on ...what parts of the remains are outstanding. There is no longer an active search for evidence or remains along the Fremont Shoreline.

The Brisbane Police Department is currently in the process of obtaining search warrants for computers and mobile devices belonging to both Shelly and Paul Titchener. The computers and mobile devices were taken from the home of Shelly and Paul Titchener and Paul Titchener’s business during the execution of search warrants on February 24, 2016.

Several items have been submitted to the San Mateo County Crime Lab for analysis. We do not have a timeline when the analysis will be complete.

Additionally, we are working on obtaining credit card and banking records for both Shelly and Paul Titchener for the days leading up to these events. Brisbane Police are also currently working on obtaining any license plate reader (LPR) information that is available to us from the surrounding bay area.

It was reported to us that Shelly was sighted at Nordstrom’s on February 15th. Video Surveillance footage has not substantiated that sighting. A neighbor also reported seeing Shelly on the 15th. We are still in the process of trying to verify that statement.

The Brisbane Police Department has enough information and evidence at this point to establish that Paul Titchener is a suspect in this case. We are not commenting on what information has led us to this determination. We are continuing to investigate whether or not Paul acted alone in this case.

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Press Release Update from the Brisbane Police Department (2/25/2016)

On Monday, February 15, 2016, the Brisbane Police Department received a report of a missing person.  Paul Titchener reported that his wife, Shelly Titchener, had left the house on Saturday, February 13, 2016, to spend some time with an unidentified friend and failed to return as expected.  Mr. Titchener told us that he was concerned as Shelly left home without her medication, cellphone, and had limited access to funds.  There has been no history of domestic violence between the two and no evidence of foul play at that time.

The Brisbane Police Department launched an investigation to attempt to locate Shelly Titchener, following up on all available leads.

On Sunday, February 21, 2016, at 8:16 p.m., the Fremont Police Department responded to a call of human remains found by people fishing near the Dumbarton Pier.  At that time there was no information leading either agency to believe that the remains were that of Shelly Titchener.

On Tuesday evening, during a subsequent search of the marshland area, Fremont Police Detectives found what is believed to be additional evidence connected to this case.  While there was still no conclusive evidence that the remains were that of Shelly Titchener, we were contacted by the Fremont Police Department based on this new evidence.  The Fremont and Brisbane police immediately began a joint investigation, with Fremont Police remaining as the lead agency.

Later on Tuesday evening, we were informed by the California Highway Patrol that Paul Titchener, the missing woman’s husband, had committed suicide by jumping from the San Francisco Bay Bridge.  The now deceased Paul Titchener was not named as a suspect, but was a person of interest.

While the circumstances of the case and the identity of the female remain under investigation, family members of the Titchener’s have been notified of the status of our investigation.

Several search warrants have been served in order to gather evidence in this case, including Paul Titchener’s business, the Titchener home and their vehicles.

We continue to work closely with the Fremont Police Department however, the Brisbane Police Department has assumed the lead in this investigation.

Details regarding the identification of the remains found by Fremont Police are under the jurisdiction of the Alameda County Coroner’s Office.  We do not have a timeline on when further information regarding the identification of the remains will be available.

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Press Release from the Fremont Police Department (2/21/2016)

On Sunday, February 21, 2016, at 8:16 p.m., the Fremont Police Department responded to a call of human remains found by people fishing near the Dumbarton Pier.  Officers arrived and located a torso of an unidentified female on a levee near the end of Marshlands Rd in Fremont.  The arms, legs and head were severed from the torso.  On Tuesday evening, during a subsequent search of the marshland area, detectives found what is believed to be additional evidence connected to this case.  Some of the evidence located is being processed by Fremont Police Crime Scene Investigators and some was collected by the Alameda County Coroner’s Office.   The identity of the female, as well as the cause and manner of death, have not been confirmed by the Alameda County Coroner’s Office. 

Detectives have temporarily halted their search in the marshland area and are following up on investigative leads.  Earlier this morning, with the cooperation of the Brisbane Police Department, a search was conducted at the home of missing person Shelly Titchener, 57, of Brisbane.  Shelly Titchener, was reported missing to Brisbane Police on February 15, 2016.  While we cannot confirm the body found is that of Shelly Titchener, we also cannot rule it out.

While the circumstances of the case and the identity of the female remain under investigation, family members of the Titchener’s have been notified of the status our investigation. Fremont detectives are continuing to work with the Brisbane Police Department and the Alameda County Coroner’s Office on this case.

The Brisbane Police Department is asking anyone with information about this investigation to please contact Detective Lester Vega at lvega@ci.brisbane.ca.us or (415) 508-2188 ext. 544.