A 25-year-old man accused of brutally killing his 35-year-old girlfriend and her 14-year-old daughter — allegedly stabbing the woman and the teen inside of their Florida home before fleeing the state — appeared in court on Monday where a judge ordered him to remain behind bars until his trial. Defendant Jean Pierre Ojeda Salazar is facing one count each of first-degree murder with a weapon, second-degree murder with a weapon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the slayings of Alejandra Cabrejo and her daughter, Mariana Cabrejo, records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Monday’s bond hearing
Hillsborough County Judge Catherine Catlin on Monday rejected Salazar’s request that the court set a bond amount for his release from pretrial detention, Tampa Fox affiliate WTVT reported. Catlin handed down the bond ruling after hearing testimony from a family friend who allegedly witnessed Salazar commit the double murder, as well as from one of the detectives investigating the case.
Jean Pierre Ojeda Salazar (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)
Prosecutors requested that the court order Salazar continue to be held without bond.
“We have a dead 14-year-old girl who doesn’t deserve to be dead, just trying to protect her mother. Anybody who’s willing to kill a 14-year-old to save their own skin should not be free in our society,” Catlin reportedly said from the bench during the proceeding. “Based upon the circumstances of these two murders, I’m going to grant the state’s motion and hold you without bond.”
The murders
According to a press release from the Tampa Police Department, officers at about 8:53 a.m. on Nov. 26 responded to a residence located in the 14000 block of Riveredge Drive in regards to a report of a 14-year-old Hispanic female who suffered “serious injuries as a result of multiple stab wounds.” Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they located the juvenile victim as well as a 35-year-old victim, later identified as Alejandra and Mariana Cabrejo. Both of the victims appeared to have suffered multiple stab wounds.
Alejandra Cabrejo was pronounced dead on the scene. Her daughter was rushed to a hospital for treatment where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.
“According to detectives, Salazar fatally injured both victims following a verbal altercation with the adult victim,” police said in the release. “Immediately following the incident, Salazar left the residence in a white sedan, that he later abandoned.”
Investigators said that Salazar initially attacked and stabbed Alejandra Cabrejo inside the residence during a heated argument. The victim’s daughter then attempted to step in and help her mother, which is when Salazar stabbed her multiple times as well, WTVT reported.
He was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force after fleeing to his brother’s home in Maryland one day after the murders.
“Mourning the loss of a loved one, after their lives were taken in such a tragic manner, is unfathomable. During this difficult time, we will continue to provide support to the families of the victims involved,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement. “Salazar’s arrest proves that our detectives will stop at nothing to ensure that those who commit a crime, especially one as heinous as this one, are held accountable.”
Several of the victims’ family members spoke to Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA about the tragic loss of their loved ones and said that Alejandra Cabrejo is survived by her 4-year-old daughter. Alejandra Cabrejo reportedly moved to the U.S. from Columbia about two years ago in hopes of finding a better life for her daughter, the family said.
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