SARASOTA, FLORIDA — A 32-year-old man is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and stabbing her in the neck with a screwdriver after allegedly finding her in bed with another man, according to Law&Crime. Josue Zepeda-Urbina faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of 31-year-old Cheyna Kimberlin Moreno-Martinez. He is also charged with three counts of burglary of an occupied dwelling. He remains in the Sarasota County Jail without bond.
Woman Found Unresponsive Inside Her Apartment
In a press release, the Sarasota Police Department said the incident happened around 4 a.m. at the Applegate Apartments. Officers responded after a 911 call about an unresponsive woman.
Moreno-Martinez was found inside the apartment and was later pronounced dead by paramedics. Investigators then began piecing together what happened in the early morning hours.
Roommate Heard Shouting Before the Attack
According to a probable cause affidavit, Moreno-Martinez’s roommate and the man who was in bed with her both gave statements to police. The roommate said she was asleep in her bedroom when she heard Zepeda-Urbina shout something like “I told you.”
She rushed into Moreno-Martinez’s room and found her sitting on the bed with blood coming from her neck. The roommate also saw the suspect allegedly leaving the apartment in his car.
Witness Describes the Stabbing
The man in bed with Moreno-Martinez told police that Zepeda-Urbina came into the room and turned on the lights. He then allegedly asked something like, “This is serious. Who is this?”
Investigators allege that Zepeda-Urbina then stabbed Moreno-Martinez in the neck with a screwdriver he was holding in his left hand. The attack happened within moments of him entering the room, according to the witness account.
Suspect Gives His Version to Police
During questioning, Zepeda-Urbina allegedly told investigators that he and Moreno-Martinez had dated before but had separated. He called their relationship cordial and claimed she had brought him dinner that night and invited him to come by later.
He said he went to the apartment after leaving a bar, but the door was locked. He told police he went back to his car and grabbed two screwdrivers, used one to force his way inside, and then found her with another man. He admitted he stabbed the mattress once before stabbing Moreno-Martinez with the second screwdriver. He also said he stopped at a 7-Eleven to buy cigarettes before his arrest.
License Plate Cameras Led to His Arrest
Police used Flock automated license plate recognition cameras to find the suspect’s vehicle. Officers got an alert around 5 a.m. and stopped him near the intersection of Beneva Road and Fruitville Road. He was taken into custody without incident.
Under Florida law, second-degree murder can carry a sentence of up to life in prison, according to the Florida Senate. Burglary involving an assault or battery can also be a first-degree felony punishable by up to life. Zepeda-Urbina has not been convicted, and the case will move forward in court.
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