Mother and Teen Daughter Face Murder Charges for Stabbing 16-Year-Old in Puerto Rico
A woman and her 17-year-old daughter stand accused of killing a teenage girl during a street fight in Aibonito, with prosecutors saying they acted together.
Mother and Teen Daughter Face Murder Charges for Stabbing 16-Year-Old in Puerto Rico
Prosecutors in Puerto Rico have charged a 40-year-old woman and her teenage daughter with first-degree murder after a 16-year-old girl was fatally stabbed during a late-night confrontation in Aibonito.
The victim, Gabriela Nicole Pratts Rosario, would have turned 17 the day after the August 11 attack. She had spent the evening at a summer festival in the town's central plaza before heading to a nearby spot where young people typically gather.
Authorities say Elvia Cabrera Rivera and Anthonieshka Avilés Cabrera, 17, worked together to stab Gabriela repeatedly. A young man who tried to intervene also suffered knife wounds and was hospitalized in serious condition.
The incident unfolded around midnight near Desvío Roberto Colón. Witnesses reported that Gabriela had attempted to defend her older sister during an earlier altercation. When the mother and daughter allegedly produced a blade, the situation turned deadly.
Gabriela's mother rushed toward her but was physically restrained by bystanders. Medical personnel transported the wounded teen to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Law enforcement arrested both suspects and set bail at $1 million each. Neither made statements to police, and both entered not-guilty pleas. They remain in separate detention facilities.
Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres told reporters the defendants acted with a shared purpose. Because the charge is first-degree murder, the younger suspect will face proceedings in adult court rather than juvenile jurisdiction. Convictions could result in life imprisonment.
At first, investigators identified six possible suspects, four of them underage. To date, only the mother and daughter have been formally accused. Officials emphasize that the probe continues and further charges may follow.
Detectives recovered a knife, garments with blood traces, and an automobile registered to the older suspect that was allegedly used to leave the area. Forensic specialists are examining the items. A judge set a preliminary hearing for late August.
The killing shocked the mountain town known as the "City of Flowers." Gabriela's funeral drew large crowds, and residents held marches calling for justice. Educators remembered her as gentle and compassionate, with aspirations of becoming a psychologist.
In a disturbing twist, the island's Education Secretary disclosed that Gabriela and the younger accused had previously been friends.
Source: Telemundo 51
Source: Google News PR — Crime