SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted today of strangling and murdering his wife in their Irvine apartment. Shalabh Rastogi, 42, Irvine, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of first degree murder. Rastogi faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison at his sentencing on Jan. 8, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-43, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Rastogi was experiencing marital trouble with his 40-year-old wife Jalina George, with whom he had three school-aged children.

During the evening of May 21, 2012, the defendant strangled and murdered George in a bedroom of their Irvine apartment. He then left the victim's body in the bedroom closet and called the police later that night.

The Irvine Police Department, who investigated this case, immediately responded to the scene and arrested the defendant.

The couple's three children were not home at the time of the murder.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Herrera of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 12ZF0140 / November 16, 2015