New Haven, Connecticut — A 41-year-old woman was fatally stabbed inside her apartment after police say her former boyfriend had allegedly become increasingly obsessed with her and made disturbing threats about killing her.
Matthew Almontes, also 41, has been charged with murder in the death of Tisha Marinoccio, according to the New Haven Police Department.
Almontes is also facing a tampering with evidence charge. He remains in custody on a $1.5 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on August 26.
The two had previously been in a relationship but were no longer together when the alleged attack occurred. Police said they continued living in the same apartment building on the 300 block of Orange Street in New Haven.
Police Say Suspect Had Become Increasingly Obsessed
Investigators learned that people around the apartment building had allegedly become concerned about Almontes’ behavior toward Marinoccio.
According to a police report, an employee at the building told investigators that Almontes had been talking about stabbing Marinoccio for approximately six months.
The employee allegedly described Almontes as becoming increasingly obsessed with the woman and experiencing what police characterized as “mental deterioration.”
The alleged threats reportedly became even more direct shortly before the killing. On Monday, according to the employee’s account, Almontes allegedly said:
“I’m going to kill her. I’m gonna stab her and they’re not gonna find a weapon.”
Police later investigated whether those statements were connected to the fatal attack that followed.
Ex-Girlfriend Reportedly Identified Her Attacker
On Wednesday, police said Marinoccio contacted authorities and reported that she had been stabbed by her ex-boyfriend. According to investigators, she identified Almontes and told police that he had left her apartment with the weapon.
When officers arrived at the building, they found Marinoccio inside her apartment suffering from a stab wound. Emergency medical personnel transported her to a local hospital, but she was pronounced dead.
The investigation quickly shifted toward locating Almontes.
Police Find Suspect and Alleged Weapon
Officers searching the surrounding area reportedly located Almontes and detained him.
Investigators also discovered a knife inside a dumpster in the rear alley of the apartment building, which police said was the weapon allegedly used in the stabbing. Surveillance footage became another important part of the investigation.
Police said video showed Almontes entering and leaving Marinoccio’s apartment and later exiting through the rear of the building.
According to authorities, the footage also showed him discarding an unknown object into the dumpster in the rear alley. Investigators subsequently recovered the knife from that location, police said.
Defendant Faces Murder and Evidence Charge
Almontes reportedly declined to speak with investigators about the allegations. He now faces a murder charge as well as a charge related to allegedly tampering with evidence.
The case has drawn attention to the alleged threats that reportedly preceded Marinoccio’s death, particularly the statement that Almontes allegedly made about stabbing her and ensuring the weapon could not be found.
The police investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare the case for court.
Almontes is scheduled to return to court on August 26, where the criminal proceedings will continue. The allegations against him have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
What do you think about the warning signs investigators say were reported before this killing? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
