El Paso woman charged with murder after stabbing caregiver at apartment complex

Shaloni Wallace, 35, allegedly stabbed April Flores, 36, to death after her mother fired Flores as caregiver. Police traced a trail of blood to Wallace's apartment.

Suspect arrested after blood trail leads police to her door in Northeast El Paso

Google News MT — Crime (en) reports that a 35-year-old woman has been charged with murder following a fatal stabbing at the Patriot Palms apartment complex, located at 4980 Sean Haggerty in Northeast El Paso, Texas.

Shaloni Mariah Wallace is accused of stabbing April Marie Flores, 36, at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Flores had recently been hired as a caregiver for Wallace's mother.

According to police documents, Wallace's mother told investigators she had employed Flores as her caregiver for roughly two weeks before dismissing her for "not doing a good job." Flores arrived at the mother's home around 9:20 a.m. that morning, and Wallace appeared approximately an hour and twenty-five minutes later.

The mother told investigators that Wallace then suddenly began attacking Flores, striking her repeatedly. She said she did not see whether Wallace was carrying a knife at the time.

Witness accounts and surveillance footage, however, indicated otherwise. A maintenance worker told investigators he heard cries for help and found Flores covered in blood and clutching her chest. The worker said he saw Wallace holding an object that appeared to be a knife with blood dripping from it before she walked back toward her apartment.

Surveillance video, according to investigators, appears to show Wallace moving between buildings within the complex while carrying an elongated object consistent with a knife.

Officers followed a trail of blood from the scene of the attack to Wallace's apartment. When she spotted an officer at her door, she slammed it shut. Police forced entry and took her into custody.

Bystanders attempted to assist Flores before emergency services arrived. She was transported to University Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.

Jail records confirm Wallace was booked into the El Paso County downtown jail and charged with murder. No bond had been set at the time of reporting. Wallace's mother also told investigators that her daughter lives in the same complex with her 11-year-old granddaughter and visits regularly.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)