Spokane man sought in double homicide surrenders to authorities

SPOKANE — A Spokane man drove from Delaware to surrender to authorities here to face charges in the deaths of his pregnant girlfriend and infant daughter.

John E. Lipinski was being held today for investigation of two counts of second-degree murder in the August 2004 death of Melissa Saldivar and of the couple's baby, who survived 52 days before being removed from life support equipment.

Saldivar, 19, was seven months pregnant when she died Aug. 11 of injuries consistent with being pushed from a car the previous day, according to court records. Doctors restarted her heart and kept her on life support so they could deliver her infant daughter.

The baby, who was brain dead, died Oct. 1 after Lipinski made the decision to remove his daughter from life-support machines.

Lipinski was accompanied by his attorney, Scott Hill, when he turned himself in at the Public Safety Building Thursday afternoon, Spokane Police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

Hill said his client had been living and working in Delaware. The arrest warrants for two counts of second-degree murder were signed June 15 and Hill said he was unable to reach Lipinski by telephone until last Saturday.

Lipinski drove from Delaware to turn himself in, Hill said.

Investigators said Lipinski dropped off Saldivar at Sacred Heart Medical Center Aug. 10, then told three versions of how she was injured. She had a fractured skull and her heart was not beating, according to court records.

Lipinski was charged with domestic violence assault against Saldivar in July 2003.