The wife of a prominent California attorney who has defended many accused killers was found dead Saturday in the foyer of the couple's remote home east of San Francisco, the apparent victim of a homicide.

Daniel Horowitz, a frequent guest commentator on Court TV and other cable news networks, found the body of his 52-year-old wife, Pamela Vitale, at about 6 p.m. Saturday and called 911.

Earlier in the day, Horowitz was working in his Lafayette, Calif., office preparing for the continuation of the high-profile trial of Susan Polk, a housewife who claims she stabbed her abusive husband to death with a paring knife three years ago.

"I really can't believe it happened. It's a shock. It's surreal," said Ivan Golde, who has been assisting Horowitz in Susan Polk's defense.

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An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Monday by the Contra Costa County Medical Examiner's Office. Coincidentally, a forensic pathologist contracted by the office had been scheduled to testify Monday about his postmortem examination of the body of 70-year-old Felix Polk.

Daniel Horowitz's latest client, Susan Polk, is currently on trial for her husband's murder.

It was not immediately clear how the murder of Horowitz's wife will affect the continuation of the Polk trial, which began with opening statements last Tuesday. Judge Laurel Brady could declare a mistrial if she believes that Susan Polk would be denied the effective assistance of her lead attorney. It is also likely that jurors have heard about the murder of Pamela Vitale, which is already grabbing headlines nationally.

Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jimmy Lee said that police are looking for leads and trying to identify potential suspects in the killing of Vitale, a former marketing executive for software companies.

"Just before 6 p.m. [PT] Saturday, we got a phone from Mr. Horowitz saying something to the effect that his wife was dead," Lee told Courttv.com. "It is considered a homicide case. There were no new developments overnight. It is still under investigation."

Horowitz's voice mailbox was full Sunday and he could not be reached. When contacted by the San Francisco Chronicle Saturday, he said, "I can't talk. I can't. It's beyond words."

On Saturday afternoon, Horowitz sounded upbeat about the Polk case when he spoke to a Courttv.com reporter by telephone.

Although prosecutors succeeded Friday in having admitted as evidence a rambling letter in which Susan Polk outlined a paranoid conspiracy involving Felix Polk and the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, the defense was able to bring in another letter in which Susan described for her children years of abuse by Felix, Horowitz said.

Horowitz and Vitale, who were each married once before, lived with their pet German Shepherds high on a hill in a remote area of Lafayette, a community located about 15 miles east of San Francisco. According to Golde, Horowitz returned home Saturday night and found his wife's lifeless body in the entranceway. There was an indication of head trauma, Golde said.

"It's the worst nightmare anyone can have," said Golde, a friend and colleague for 14 years. "Dan and his wife are very close and had everything to live for and look forward to. Dan's a strong man and Dan will be OK, but this is beyond tough."

Daniel Horowitz commented on Scott Peterson's murder trial and Michael Jackson's child-molestation trial frequently for Court TV and other networks. He has represented at least 14 defendants in capital murder cases. He also represented the fan who caught, and later auctioned off, Barry Bonds' 700^th career home run ball.