Samantha Maldonado: Woman stabbed in Chicago names ex-boyfriend Alejandro Arellano as 'killer' before death
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A woman's ex-boyfriend has been arrested and charged with her murder following a savage stabbing on a platform of a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) station. Alejandro Arellano, 31, was arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of Samantha Maldonado, 26, on Sunday, March 12.
Samantha was able to name Alejandro shortly before she breathed her last. “A key piece of evidence, in this case, came from the victim herself, first deputy superintendent Eric Carter said during a press conference on Monday, March 13, ABC7 reported.
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'She named Arellano as the offender before she succumbed to her injuries'
As per Carter, "She (Samantha) named Arellano as the offender before she succumbed to her injuries.” Prosecutors claim that Arellano and Maldonado, who worked together, were in a relationship for around six months before calling it quits last week. As per reports, the former couple was seen early on Saturday morning, March 11, at Miller's Pub in Chicago's Loop district. They were seated in a corner. Maldonado was witnessed rushing out of the pub with Arellano following her at around 1.20 am.
Samantha tried to hide from Alejandro on a platform at the CTA
Samantha tried to hide from Alejandro on a platform at the CTA station at Wabash Avenue and Adams Street. During the chase as captured by the surveillance cameras, Arellano took out a folding knife from his pocket, extended its blade, and kept it back in his pocket.
Prosecutors claim that Maldonado tried to board an approaching train while concealing herself behind a CTA equipment box, but her ex-boyfriend prevented her from doing so by pushing her away from the open doors. The train then left the station, leaving Maldonado and Arellano standing on the platform by themselves. Prosecutors claim that when Maldonado attempted to leave, Arellano reportedly attacked her, as seen on a security camera.
'He grabbed her neck and shoulder and stabbed her multiple times'
Arellano appeared in court on Monday afternoon, March 13. “As the defendant approached the victim from behind, he grabbed her neck and shoulder area and stabbed her multiple times,” Cook County State’s Attorney Anne McCord said during Arellano’s initial court appearance on Monday, WTTW reported. "She was able to pull away from the defendant and stumble down the CTA steps. The defendant stayed on the platform, boarded a train and went home."
Investigators said that Maldonado was bleeding and struggling to breathe when she staggered back to the street where people gathered to help her. "She named Arellano as the offender before she succumbed to her injuries," Carter said. Around 14 hours later, Arellano was arrested outside his home and, as per prosecutors, he was wearing the same clothes and had the murder weapon in his pocket. Arellano is being held on no bond.
"We're thankful she was able to share that information mostly," Maldonado's cousin told ABC7. "And for us, we're just really grateful that we're able to have an answer. It helps the family feel more at peace." Maldonado's father immediately flew from Ecuador to Chicago to locate his trained engineer daughter. "He wanted the absolute best for her, for her dreams," the victim's cousin said.