A mother’s nightmare came true when she walked into her daughter’s bedroom in their shared apartment, only to find another woman stabbing her child repeatedly.
The Pocatello Police Department announced that Marita Gonzales has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery after she was found attacking a 32-year-old woman inside a family’s apartment in Pocatello, Idaho.
She has since been taken into custody at Bannock County Jail, according to the press release.
A mother and daughter were at their apartment on Sunday, February 15, when the 32-year-old daughter invited Gonzales back to the home after they met online, according to court records obtained by the Idaho State Journal.
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Around 10 p.m., the 49-year-old mother reportedly heard suspicious noises coming from her daughter’s bedroom. She then entered the room and saw someone stabbing her daughter 18 times.
After she walked in on the stabbing, Gonzales allegedly cut the mother in the face with the knife before she ran out of the home.
When Pocatello police officers responded to the home, they found the 32-year-old woman nude while covered in blood with stab wounds all across her face, head, neck and hands. She was transported to a local hospital and was later airlifted to a hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Police have since confirmed that she is in stable condition after treatment.
Meanwhile, the mother was brought to the local hospital to receive treatment. She has since been released.
On Monday, February 16, the Pocatello Police Department said in the first press release that they were looking for an “unknown male assailant” that they described as being “approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, short hair, wearing a hat and a dark jacket.”
“The police are currently reviewing the victim’s cell phone for further information,” the initial statement said. “The police are currently reviewing all evidence, cell phones, surveillance footage, and canvasing the area. We are following up on all leads as the investigation progresses.”
Police also said that the suspect was “considered armed and dangerous.” The statement continued, “Please do not approach the male and call the police. This incident remains under investigation.”
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However, the suspect’s description changed when investigators reportedly saw surveillance footage of the daughter and a person entering a store about one hour before the incident took place. The footage helped them identify Gonzales as the suspect.
Gonzales was tracked down and arrested on Tuesday, February 17. She appeared in court on Wednesday, February 18, and was ordered to be held on a $1 million bond, according to the Idaho State Journal.
It is not currently clear if Gonzales has entered a plea or retained legal representation following her arrest. Police have not shared any further information about the incident as of time of publication.
The investigation into the crime remains ongoing. Authorities have asked anyone with information regarding the case to contact the Pocatello Police Department at (208) 234-6100. In the first press release, police said that the preliminary investigation led them to believe that the attack was an isolated incident.
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