Napa Restaurateur Eiko Nakamura Murdered; Ex-Husband Is Alleged Killer

Tragedy struck in Napa on Saturday morning as 78-year-old restaurateur Eiko Nakamura was found murdered in her home. The cause of death was multiple stab wounds, as well as blunt-force trauma, and her 71-year-old ex-husband, Shozaburo Nakamura, apparently confessed to police, saying he had killed her during a domestic dispute. The Nakamuras had been living together despite being divorced, and Shozaburo didn't call the cops after the incident transpired; they investigated the house 24 hours after Eiko was killed, when a friend reported her missing, and found her body in the bathroom.

Eiko Nakamura was the owner of Eiko's, a Japanese restaurant in downtown Napa, alongside brothers Mike and Rich Zaslove. The restaurant, which opened in 2011, is a popular spot in the Napa scene, known for the sushi that Eiko perfected during 24 years at now-shuttered sushi bar Fujiya, near the Napa outlets. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder, Eiko Nakamura," the restaurant wrote on Facebook yesterday afternoon. "We kindly request privacy until further details are known. RIP Eiko, we will always love you!" Shozaburo was booked into the Napa County Jail yesterday afternoon, and continues to be held on suspicion of murder and a weapons allegation.

· Ex-husband held in slaying of Napa restaurateur [Chron]
· Eiko's [Facebook]