Corning woman killed; boyfriend arrested

A 55-year-old Corning woman was killed Monday and her live-in boyfriend arrested in connection with her death, the Corning police reported.

Linda I. Griggs was found dead in the kitchen of her home in the 1400 block of Chicago Avenue after police received a call at 5:17 a.m. from Steven A. Piazza, 49, reporting he feared he had killed her, according to police Chief Tony Cardenas.

Cardenas said Griggs died between 3:30 and 4 a.m. She had sustained head wounds from an apparent beating, while the couple’s 10-year-old daughter was asleep in the home, Cardenas said.

He said the killing may be the result of an “ongoing issue” between Griggs and Piazza.

Piazza called police from a residence in Dairyville, where he had the couple’s daughter with him, said Cardenas.

Corning police, with assistance from the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, arrived at the residence and took Piazza into custody. The 10-year-old girl was placed with Tehama County Child Protective Services.

Piazza was taken to the Corning Police Department were he was interviewed and then arrested. He was booked into the Tehama County Jail on suspicion of murder and is being held without bail.

Police seized a weapon, but Cardenas would not identify it or say if it was involved in the killing until an autopsy is completed.

Cardenas said police had never been called to the couple’s home previous to Griggs’ death.

Griggs was support staff at Corning Union Elementary School District, where she worked for many years.

Piazza was a truck driver for Gordon Trucking and was not home very often, according to Mary Hall, who lives next door to the couple on Chicago Avenue.