UPDATE: The Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced Thursday, Sept. 27, it was investigating the death as a homicide. Read more here.
ORIGINAL STORY POSTED SEPT. 26:
A Winchester woman left for dead by the road in French Valley was assaulted by someone, rather than struck by a hit-and-run driver, her family alleged Wednesday.
Wanda McGlover of Winchester, 68, was found Friday on Brookridge Lane by family members after she did not return from her usual morning walk, according to investigators.
Brookridge Lane is off Washington Street near a park and housing tracts, in an area of Winchester known as French Valley.
She suffered severe head trauma and died later at Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta.
Initial reports indicated that McGlover had been struck by a vehicle and left to die but on Wednesday her family released information that the victim had been on the phone with her youngest daughter when an attack occurred.
According to a news release issued by the family, the youngest daughter heard someone grab her mother's cell phone as they spoke and McGlover screamed her daughter's name.
The family has called a news conference to discuss the case and to ask for the public's help in tracking down whomever mortally injured McGlover.
The daughter reportedly called her sister and brother -- with whom McGlover lived -- and also tried to call Temecula deputies but got an automated response.
A family member held McGlover's hand until medics arrived.
The family contends McGlover died of cardiac arrest, brought on by the trauma to her head.
Investigation Continues
In another development, Patch confirmed Wednesday with CHP that McGlover was involved in a fatal pedestrian accident the evening of Aug. 7 on Interstate 215 in Perris.
A 46-year-old Perris man was walking on the right shoulder of the southbound lanes just north of Highway 74, according to Riverside area CHP Sgt. Meeker.
McGlover was driving a 2010 Ford Flex at about 55-60 mph when for unknown reasons, the pedestrian walked into the far right lane and she hit him, Meeker said.
The pedestrian was struck down into freeway lanes and further impact caused him to suffer fatal injuries, according to Meeker.
Limited information is still being released about McGlover's fatal injuries suffered Friday, about a block from her home.
The Temecula CHP office was on scene of the tragedy Wednesday afternoon. A few dozen authorities were combing an adjacent field.
"The coroner related that the injuries could be consistent with a motor vehicle collision," said Temecula area CHP Officer Nathan Baer. "No other leads to share right now."
As to whether the two incidents could be related, Baer said: "No comment on that yet."
