Idaho Widow Faces Murder Charge Woman Used Excessive Force In Husband’s Death, Prosecutor Says

A Beauty Bay woman accused of shooting and killing her husband was charged with second-degree murder Friday.

Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies arrested Darlene Caba on Friday afternoon, more than a month after James Caba Sr.’s death on Dec. 15.

“We are elated that she has been arrested,” said Shelley Caba, the dead man’s daughter-in-law. “We feel in our hearts that she is very guilty.”

Deputies found James Caba, 59, dead at the couple’s home, 8415 Beauty Bay Road. He had been shot once in the chest with a .357 magnum revolver.

Sheriff’s investigators said the couple had apparently been arguing before the shooting.

Although deputies took Darlene Caba into custody on the day of the shooting, she was released after the Kootenai County prosecutor decided to wait to file charges.

“The time between the shooting and now was spent very carefully checking out her story against the physical evidence,” said Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas.

Darlene Caba had told investigators that she shot her husband because he was coming after her with a knife.

Police did find a knife at the scene. But, Lt. Ben Wolfinger said the widow made several contradictory statements when investigators interviewed her.

Both Douglas and sheriff’s officials declined to discuss the specifics of the case against Darlene Caba.

However, “The focus of the investigation for the last three weeks has been on whether the use of a firearm was excessive,” Douglas said. “Obviously, we concluded that it was an excessive use of force.”

For the past year, James Caba Sr.’s family had been concerned for his safety, said Shelly Caba.

Although she would not elaborate, Shelley Caba and her husband, Jim Caba Jr., visited the Beauty Bay home in August 1993 and left feeling uneasy.

Jim Caba Jr. said the shooting of his father has been difficult for the family to cope with.

James Caba Sr. left behind two children and five grandchildren. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed collecting guns, his son said.

“He could recite to you ‘The Shooters’ Bible,”’ Jim Caba Jr. said. “He would do anything he could for his family at any time. He stood by his family through anything.”

Darlene Caba is charged with both second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Second-degree murder is an “unexcused, unjustified, intentional killing with malice,” Douglas said. Premeditation is required for first-degree murder.

Darlene Caba could face up to life in prison if convicted. She is being held at the Kootenai County Jail on $100,000 bail.

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