A 64-year-old man in Texas was arrested last week for allegedly killing his wife, stabbing the 66-year-old woman multiple times inside their family home because he believed that she was having an affair with another man. Martin Garcia was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with murder in the slaying of Teresa Moreno Garcia, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Officers with the San Antonio Police Department at about 11 p.m. on the night of Tuesday, Dec. 5, responded to an emergency call at a residence located in the 200 block of Channing Avenue in regard to an adult female being stabbed, San Antonio ABC affiliate KSAT reported. The report states that the caller identified himself as Martin Garcia before explaining to the dispatcher that he had just finished killing his wife by stabbing her to death.
Martin Garcia (Bexar County Jail) and the scene outside the home where he allegedly killed his wife (via YouTube screengrab/KSAT).
Upon arriving at the address, first responders said they found the victim — later identified as Teresa Garcia — suffering from what appeared to be multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The San Antonio Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services were also dispatched to the residence. Police said that when they found Martin Garcia at the scene he appeared to have intentionally cut one of his wrists. He was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation before being taken into custody without incident.
A copy of the arrest report obtained by the San Antonio Express-News provided additional information regarding the circumstances of the alleged domestic violence murder.
According to the report, Martin Garcia told the 911 emergency dispatcher that he had used a knife to murder his wife and slit his wrists after the two had gotten into a heated argument. Garcia reportedly explained that they were arguing because he believed that his wife was cheating on him. He said that at some point during the argument, Teresa Garcia attempted to leave the house, which is when he allegedly attacked her, fatally stabbing his wife with the knife.
When officers arrived at the couple’s home, Martin Garcia was reportedly waiting for them outside the residence. Teresa Garcia’s body was discovered inside the lying on the floor inside of the home.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on the victim and identified her publicly as Teresa Garcia earlier this week. The medical examiner also reportedly determined that Teresa Garcia’s manner of death was a homicide and the cause of death was multiple sharp force injuries.
After being evaluated at the hospital, Martin Garcia was booked into the Bexar County Jail and held in lieu of $200,000 bond. In his mug shot, Martin Garcia appears to have two bloody scratch marks or streaks of blood running down his left cheek.
Records appear to show that Martin Garcia was released from detention after posting bond on the condition that he remain on full house arrest and not possess any firearms. A pretrial hearing in the case has been set for Jan. 23, 2024.
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