Updated: Monte Sereno Man Killed in Home Invasion

Updated: 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30. The City of Monte Sereno issued a statement this afternoon expressing sorrow over today's early morning home invasion robbery which left one man dead at a mansion located at 18630 Withey Road.

"The city is deeply saddened by this loss in our community and has every confidence in our police department to solve this case," the statement said.

A community meeting with Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Chief Scott Seaman has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 at Monte Sereno City Hall, 18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Rd., to discuss community safety, the statement continued.

Updated: 11:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30: Although local cops are not announcing the location of the Monte Sereno homicide that took place overnight, Withey Road has now been re-opened and media organizations on scene have moved to a location in front of the residence at 18630 Withey Road.

One caller has contacted Los Gatos Patch to give the name of the victim, but we're waiting for the Santa Clara County Coroner's Office to confirm the identity.

Updated: 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30: Los Gatos Monte Sereno police, aided by area law enforcement, are on the lookout for one or more suspects this morning who invaded a Monte Sereno home at about 1:30 a.m., apparently killing one of its occupants during an invasion-type robbery.

At 1:36 a.m. Friday morning, a 911 call came from a woman in the residence into the department's communication center stating that a residence in the 18000 block of Withey Road had been broken into, near Beck Avenue. 

The woman indicated that someone had ransacked the dwelling.

Police arrived at about 1:42 a.m. and discovered her husband's body in the home. His wife was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The victims' names are not being released until family is notified and until the Santa Clara County Coroner's Office can ID the man.

"This investigation is very actively ongoing," said Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Sgt. Kerry Harris. "We have many law enforcement resources on Withey Road."

Monte Sereno, a tranquil upscale enclave of about 3,000 residents, hasn't had a homicide since 1972, and neighboring Los Gatos hasn't had any similar incidents in the last few years.

"There's heavy police presence in the neighborhood now," Harris said, adding that extra personnel were dispatched to the scene since the first officers arrived to find the grisly discovery. "They very quickly brought police help from Campbell, Sunnyvale and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office to secure the scene and search the area."

Harris said nearby residents can count on added patrols this morning following the crime. "The entire area has been secured ... We're confident he or they are no longer in the neighborhood," he said.

Unfortunately, police still don't have a description of the suspect or suspects, he said.

James U. Hall, who lives about three quarters of a mile from the scene, said there are many mansions on hilly Withey Road, and that the neighborhood is scared about what happened. "I don't remember anybody ever being murdered in Monte Sereno. We're locking our doors, that's for sure," Hall said.

Greg Hall, who lives on Oakhurst Drive in Monte Sereno, said the crime is frightening to the community. "We don't know what happened. We don't know if the perpetrator knew the victims. We're going to take more precautions for safety around our house."

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A man was killed early this morning in Monte Sereno following what police are saying was a home invasion robbery.

Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police arrived at the residence located in the 18000 block of Withey Road, near Beck Avenue at 1:42 a.m. and found a man deceased inside the home with his wife suffering non-life-threatening injuries. She was transported to the hospital.

Police are searching for a suspect in connection with a homicide, according
to police.

The name of the deceased victim is not being released, pending family  notification by the coroner's office, according to police.

The homicide and burglary remain under investigation, police said.      

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the
Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Sgt. Mike D'Antonio at 408-827-3219 or after hours at 408-354-8600.