A Pennsylvania man has been arrested after he stabbed his girlfriend to death, allegedly over a new haircut he didn’t like.
Benjamin Garcia Gual, 49, has been charged with homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and recklessly endangering another person after he killed Carmen Martinez-Silva, 50, and severely injured her brother.
Police said they found Gual in a car outside the mobile home residence when they arrived just after 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, WHTM reported. They found a kitchen knife in the car with apparent blood stains, and the suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. Police did not say what type of injuries he had or how he got them.
Inside the home, they found Martinez-Silva and her brother, who had stab wounds to his head, chest, abdomen, and arm.
Witnesses told detectives Gaul was upset over a new haircut and threatened to kill her on Saturday because of it. A criminal. complaint says that Martinez-Silver fled to her daughter’s home, where she spent the night, Law&Crime reported.
“Yamaris (Knight, the daughter) stated that Carmen cut her hair, which angered Benjamin,” the complaint says. “Carmen relayed to Yamaris that Benjamin told her that he was going to stab her over her haircut.”
Martinez-Silva left her daughter’s home Sunday morning and went to her brother, Luis Martinez-Silva, and asked if he could “tell Benjamin that their relationship was over” and to “get his stuff” out of the home. A witness described what happened at Luis Martinez-Silva’s home.
“Benjamin came to [his home] looking for Carmen and he explained to Benjamin that Carmen was not present, attempting to protect Carmen, although she was inside the trailer,” the complaint says. “[The witness] then explained to officers that Benjamin left but minutes later came back to the scene. Luis came to the front door, at which time Benjamin started stabbing Luis.”
Gual was using a kitchen knife, the complaint says. Carmen Martinez-Silva tried to get Gual off her brother, the witness said, “which is when Benjamin started stabbing Carmen in a backward motion.” He also swung the knife at the witness but missed.
Multiple 911 callers reported that Gual remained scene before eventually holing up insie the car.
Gual is being held without bond at the Lancaster County prison, WHTM said. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.
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[Featured image: Carmen Martinez-Silva/Facebook and Benjamin Garcia Gual/Lancaster County Prison]