When he returned, he and the family housekeeper, Mayra Melenez Lopez, an immigrant from El Salvador, had a struggle.
Lopez claimed he had thrown ice cream in her face and pummeled her repeatedly, giving her a black eye.
According to Los Angeles Police Detective Joseph Diglio, Lopez was a suspect from the beginning of the investigation.
After two and a half days of deliberation, on July 16, a jury at the Van Nuys superior court found Lopez not guilty of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter and charges of arson in Wallerstein's death.
Lopez then reportedly placed her head in the chest of her lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Mark Lessom and whispered "Thank you".