Man, 73, Dies After Being Tied Up by Intruder

A 73-year-old man died early Friday after he and his wife were tied up in the bedroom of their Marina del Rey home by a masked intruder who robbed them of jewelry, authorities said.

Sheriff’s deputies said that Victor Smith was pronounced dead at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital after his wife, Joan, 65, managed to free the couple and call authorities.

Authorities said the intruder grabbed Joan Smith from behind and placed a handgun to her head as she returned to the couple’s second-floor condominium late Thursday. She told investigators that her husband appeared to stop breathing during the few minutes the couple was bound with tape. An autopsy was to be conducted to determine the cause of death, deputies said.