U.S. Open umpire arrested for L.A. murder

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NEW YORK, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A veteran tennis umpire slated to work the U.S. Open was arrested for allegedly killing her elderly husband earlier this year, Los Angeles police said.

Lois Ann Goodman, 70, was arrested at a hotel in New York on charges she fatally struck Alan Goodman, 80, in April and then tried to make it look like he had been killed in a tumble down the stairs of their Woodland Hills, Calif., home.

"She bludgeoned him to death with a coffee mug," said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

The Los Angeles Times said Wednesday Alan Goodman was reported dead by his wife on April 17. Although she said he had fallen down the stairs, investigators said the injuries indicated he had been struck multiple times.

Because Lois Ann Goodman traveled extensively on the tennis tour, they took her into custody in New York where qualifying matches for the U.S. Open were under way. The Times said she was led out of her Manhattan hotel in handcuffs and still wearing her blue Open jacket.