Nicole Kunz, 40, was found dead in a bedroom of a home on Bailey Flats Road in Raymond, Madera County, on February 15, 2024. Madera County deputies responded after reports of a possible deceased person and investigators immediately treated her death as a homicide.

Nicole lived in Visalia and was remembered by friends and family as kind-hearted, an animal activist who cared for four rescue dogs, and someone who loved gardening and making jewelry. Investigators focused on her on-and-off boyfriend, 60-year-old Lenny Sciacca of Visalia. Search warrants executed at his residence preceded his arrest on March 29, 2024, on a charge of first-degree murder; reports indicated authorities believed he had been planning to flee.

Friends described the relationship as volatile and marked by controlling behavior and jealousy. Does anyone who knew Nicole or lived in the Raymond–Visalia area have information that could help the investigation?