Miami – A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Florida after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death inside her car, leaving behind her young daughter, police said.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said it began investigating around 4 p.m. on Saturday after a grandmother flagged down a deputy in a residential area near Southwest 144th Street and Southwest 134th Avenue.
The grandmother reported finding a 3-year-old girl wandering alone, with what appeared to be dried blood on her face and clothing.
A Gruesome Discovery
Deputies immediately began searching for the girl’s mother. When they couldn’t find her at home, they searched the area and located the mother’s vehicle. Inside, they found the woman, later identified as 24-year-old Maria Camila Garcia-Molina, unresponsive with multiple stab wounds.
Paramedics arrived at the scene but were unable to save Garcia-Molina. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Suspect Identified and Arrested
Through investigative work, deputies identified 29-year-old Joy Chandra Nath as the suspect. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and child abuse.
An arrest report obtained by WTVJ revealed more grim details. Garcia-Molina’s body was found covered with blankets in the passenger seat of her car. She had suffered stab wounds to her neck, torso, and other parts of her body.
Deputies believe the little girl was present at the time of the attack. The child reportedly told officers that her mother was “sleeping” after being hit in the head. Thankfully, the girl did not suffer any physical injuries.
A History of Violence
Garcia-Molina’s family told investigators that Nath was her ex-boyfriend. They said she had obtained a restraining order against him after he stalked her.
The arrest report also mentioned that Nath and Garcia-Molina’s current boyfriend had an altercation at a local mall the day before the murder.
Nath was arrested early Sunday morning during a traffic stop. Authorities said he had visible scratches on his face, arms, and neck.
He was allegedly carrying Garcia-Molina’s belongings at the time of his arrest and told deputies he was planning to return them. Nath claimed that earlier, he, Garcia-Molina, and her daughter had gone to breakfast and that she had given him her purse and cellphone.
Records also show that Nath was already out on bond for theft-related charges from 2024.