Salinas stabbing suspect charged with murder of pregnant woman
SALINAS, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 11/21/2019 3:30 p.m. A man suspected of stabbing and killing a pregnant Salinas woman is currently only facing one murder charge, but the District Attorney's Office said that could be raised to two.
43-year-old Garrett Scheff appeared in court Thursday, but he did not enter a plea.
UPDATE 11/20/2019 10:40 a.m. The Monterey County Jail confirms the suspect in the stabbing death of an apparent pregnant woman in Salinas is now charged with two counts of murder.
43-year-old Garrett Scheff is accused of attacking 26-year-old Mariana Jurado outside of her residence Tuesday morning as she was going to work.
The sister-in-law of Jurado confirmed to KION Tuesday night that Mariana was two months pregnant.
UPDATE 11/19/2019 10:12 p.m. A Salinas family is in mourning Tuesday night after 26-year-old Mariana Jurado was stabbed to death right outside of her home.
Mariana's sister-in-law, Amy Jurado, told KION she was her brother’s soulmate and two months pregnant before she was killed.
“It’s just not fair for anyone,” Amy said. “I hope they will find out everything and why did this person do it to her–why her?”
The Jurado family is still in shock and has many questions after she was stabbed Tuesday morning.
Salinas Police say suspect, 43-year-old Garrett Scheff, attacked her outside her home just after 9:30 near Clay and Cayuga street.
She was taken to the hospital, but a short time later, died of her injuries.
Amy said Mariana was her parent’s only child. Now, the family is only left with her memory.
“She was actually a very loving person. She was a good base for my brother. When he was in a bad place, she actually came and gave him a hand. She was a really good person; a very good soul,” Amy said.
Police say Scheff was arrested just a block from where the stabbing happened.
They also say Mariana did not know Scheff and that this was a random act of violence.
“She was a good person. I know that because she was the wife of my son. My son is suffering right now. It’s just not right,” her father-in-law told KION.
Scheff was booked into Monterey County Jail on one count of murder.
But after the incident, neighbors are concerned about their safety.
“I feel worried. That’s why i gotta be with the kids right now,” nearby neighbor Mario Correa. “I used to feel safe on this side, but I don’t know, it’s starting to get the same way everywhere, you know, so it’s really the same.”
This case is still under investigation by police. Anyone with information can contact the Salinas PD’s Detective Bureau at (831) 758-7137 or Detective Byron Gansen at byrong@ci.salinas.ca.us.
UPDATE 11/19/2019 5:20 p.m. A 26-year-old woman was stabbed to death when she was leaving her Salinas home Tuesday morning. Police said it appears to be a random act of violence.
Police said that at around 9:30 a.m., Mariana Jurado was leaving her home near Clay Street and Cayuga Street to go to work when she was attacked. She was stabbed by 43-year-old Garrett Scheff, according to police. They said she did not know Scheff.
Jurado was taken to the hospital, but died of her injuries.
Scheff was caught and arrested about a block from the scene. He was booked into the Monterey County Jail and charged with murder.
PREVIOUS STORY: Salinas police are investigating a stabbing that happened near Clay Street and Cayuga Street Tuesday.
The stabbing happened at around 9:30 a.m., and police said a suspect is in custody. They do not believe there is a risk to the community, but are still investigating.
There is no word yet on the condition of the victim.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Byron Gansen at 831-758-7137 or byrong@ci.salinas.ca.us.
