LAUSD Teacher Accused Of Fatally Stabbing Wife Captured At Joshua Tree Motel

JOSHUA TREE (CBSLA.com) — An LAUSD elementary school teacher accused of stabbing his wife to death outside of a San Fernando Valley home was arrested Monday after two days on the run.

Michael Rodney Kane, 46, was arrested at 12:05 a.m. at a motel in Joshua Tree, officials with the Los Angeles and San Bernardino County Sheriff's departments said.

Authorities found Kane's vehicle in Yucca Valley Sunday and later tracked him to the motel.

"The door was locked from the inside. Based on the seriousness of the crime and us having information that the suspect was seriously injured, for his safety and well being, the door was kicked in and he was taken into custody," Det. Dave Patek told KNX 1070's John Baird.

Kane was arrested without incident and transported to the LAPD's Topanga station.

He had been on the lam since early Saturday morning when he allegedly killed his 43-year-old wife, Michelle Kane, in the 7100 block of Deveron Ridge Road in West Hills.

She been staying at a friend's house since Friday, when Kane allegedly showed up at her Canoga Park townhouse and busted out windows on the front door and the garage.

Kane's wife filed a restraining order, but police say he found her at her friend's home, forced his way into the house and confronted her.

When she tried to flee, he allegedly stabbed her in the street. Neighbors say they heard Michelle's cries as she begged her husband of 10 years to stop.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Daily News, Michael Kane has been a teacher at Nestle Avenue Charter Elementary in Tarzana since 2008.

The couple's children — a 2-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl — are in the custody of Michelle Kane's parents.

Additional details about Kane's arrest were not released.