Long Beach police arrested a 74-year-old man on suspicion of murdering his wife in their home in Long Beach before he fled to Barstow.

People initially called the police after not hearing from the couple in the last few days and going to check on them, police said. When they got there, they “observed suspicious circumstances” and called police.

Police were called to a North Long Beach home in the 1000 block of Harding Street on Wednesday at about 11:35 a.m., where they found a dead woman with signs of decomposition and wounds to her upper body. She was identified as 63-year-old Debbie Allen, police said.

Police learned she lived with her husband, Henry, who was no longer at the home.

“Detectives followed investigative leads and located suspect Allen in the city of Barstow,” police said.

Henry Allen was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held on a $2 million bail. Detectives expect to present their case to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office next week.

Police ask that anyone with information on the incident to call homicide detectives Michael Hubbard and Leticia Gamboa at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 800-222-8477 or by visiting www.crimestoppers.org.