A 75-year-old man has been charged with the domestic violence killing of his wife of 35 years, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced today.

Deputy District Attorney David Berger said Thomas Foster (dob 2/11/42) faces one count of murder with handgun use allegations.

Foster pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday and is scheduled back on Jan. 18 in Dept. W31 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Airport Branch. Case SA097123 was filed on Jan. 2.

Police conducting a welfare check at a house on the 4000 block of Corinth Ave., in Los Angeles discovered the body of the defendant and a woman on the floor. The woman, Donie Vanitzian, 67, was dead from a gunshot wound while Foster was nearly unconscious, the prosecutor said.

Bail is set at $3 million. Foster faces a possible maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Pacific Division.

Los Angeles District Attorney / Case SA097123 / January 4, 2018