Son Finds San Clemente Widow Stabbed to Death in Her Bed

A woman found stabbed to death in her San Clemente home was identified Friday as Lorraine Anne Cumiskey, a 62-year-old widow living alone, authorities said.

Deputies had initially reported that she died from a gunshot wound, but coroner’s officials said Friday that the woman had been stabbed, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Cumiskey was found in her bedroom in the 1700 block of South Ola Vista about 5 p.m. Thursday by her only child, a son who drove from San Diego County to check on her, according to Amormino.

“He hadn’t heard from her for several days,� Amormino said. “When he couldn’t reach her, he checked on her well-being and found her dead in her bed.�

Police said Cumiskey was stabbed in the head with a sharp object -- possibly an ice pick, knife or fireplace poker.

Detectives said the woman was not clothed, and an investigation is continuing to determine whether she had been sexually assaulted.

The home was not ransacked, there were no signs of forced entry and nothing appeared to be missing, sheriff’s deputies said.

Volunteers from the Sheriff’s Department spent part of Friday searching an adjacent ravine for the murder weapon and other evidence.

They found several items, Amormino said, but investigators had not yet determined whether they were connected to the killing. He said there were no suspects.