Matthew Almontes, 41, faces murder and evidence tampering charges after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in her New Haven, Connecticut apartment. Police say he had talked about killing her for months.
Attack and Arrest
New Haven Police Department officers responded to a distress call Wednesday from Tisha Marinoccio, 41. She told police that Almontes lived in the building and left her apartment with the weapon. Upon arrival, officers found Marinoccio inside her apartment suffering from a stab wound. She was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital but succumbed to her injuries. Her family has been notified, according to the police department.
After the stabbing, officers located Almontes nearby and arrested him. Investigators reviewed security footage from the apartment complex, which showed Almontes entering and leaving Marinoccio's apartment before later leaving through the rear of the building.
Threats and Evidence
According to police records obtained by the New Haven Register, an employee at the apartment complex on Orange Street, where both lived in separate units, told investigators that Almontes had repeatedly spoken about stabbing his ex over a period of around six months. The employee said Almontes had become increasingly 'obsessed' with Marinoccio and appeared to be experiencing a decline in his mental state.
Two days before the attack, Almontes allegedly told the building employee that he intended to kill and stab her, while also claiming that police would not find the weapon. Police said he appeared to discard an object into a dumpster in an alley behind the property. Officers subsequently recovered a knife from the bin that they believe was used in the attack.
Charges and Court
Almontes faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence. He remains in custody on a $1.5 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on August 26.
