A Pennsylvania man has been jailed on multiple charges, including murder, after reportedly stabbing his girlfriend to death over her hairstyle.
Carmen Martinez-Silva, 50, was fatally stabbed on Sunday, November 3, at her house in East Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania, according to Lancaster County officials.
The victim was not named in the statement, however she was identified on a GoFundMe page by her family by multiple publications, including Lancaster Online, PennLive, and ABC 27.
Benjamin Garcia, 49, was arrested in connection with the killing, according to unnamed court documents reported by the outlets. (The suspect is identified as Benjamin Garcia Gual in news stories, while his surname is listed as “Garcia” in online court documents).
According to charge records quoted by Lancaster Online and PennLive, police arrived to the residence on Sunday after receiving allegations of stabbings. The callers stated that the perpetrator was “standing there with a knife in his hand.”
At the scene, authorities discovered Martinez-Silva dead and her brother, Luis Martinez-Silva, with several stab wounds. Garcia was allegedly found with a silver kitchen knife, according to the charging paperwork. (Luis is expected to survive, according to all three sources.)
Martinez-Silva’s daughter informed police that Garcia reportedly stabbed the victim over her haircut, according to a probable cause affidavit and police testimony published by PennLive, Local 21 News, and Lancaster Online.
According to ABC 27, a family member of Martinez-Silva informed authorities that Carmen cut her hair, which enraged Benjamin.
“[The suspect] told her he was going to stab her over her haircut,” the witness claimed.
According to an affidavit quoted by PennLive and Local 21 News, the daughter told police that her mother spent the night at her house as a result of Garcia’s claimed threat over the haircut.
According to the affidavit, Martinez-Silva went to Luis’ residence on Sunday morning and instructed another individual, Hector Burgos, to warn Garcia that she was leaving him. Burgos told officers he couldn’t find Garcia at his home.
Meanwhile, Garcia allegedly went to Luis’ house looking for Martinez-Silva. When Luis told him she wasn’t there to protect her, Garcia allegedly fled for a short time before returning and stabbing Luis, according to the affidavit.
According to Burgos, he allegedly began stabbing Martinez-Silva as she attempted to remove him from her brother.
According to the affidavit, Garcia swung the knife at Burgos and another witness twice but missed.
Martinez-Silva’s family stated on a GoFundMe page uploaded on Facebook by the victim’s daughter that they are gathering funds to properly bury her.
“The family is devastated by this loss, we would’ve never imagined a tragedy like this would happen to our beloved Carmen,” a portion of the fundraising speech said.
According to online court documents, Garcia is being jailed on many accusations, including criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering another person. He is being held without a bond.
Garcia’s defense attorney was not mentioned in online court records, and it was unclear whether he had filed a plea.