September 22, 2010 3:08 PM
Jared Taylor
The Monitor
BY THE NUMBERS:
Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office homicides
2008 24 homicides, 4 domestic violence-related
2009 21 homicides, 5 domestic violence
2010* 14 homicides, 4 domestic violence
*As of Sept. 22
23 percent of HCSO homicides in past three years domestic violence-related
McALLEN — A man who allegedly stabbed his wife to death before turning the knife on himself faced a murder charge from his hospital bed Tuesday evening.
Jose Francisco Javier Vasquez, 53, was formally charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed his wife, Maria de Jesus Garcia, 35, at least 10 times in her upper chest with a hunting knife early Sunday morning.
Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Charlie Espinoza arraigned Vasquez on the murder charge Tuesday at McAllen Medical Center. Bond was set at $500,000.
Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies discovered the alleged murder upon responding to the couple's house at 4406 Avery Street, near Palmview, about 2 a.m. Sunday.
Vasquez was rushed to McAllen Medical Center, where he remains in stable condition. He is expected to remain hospitalized for the next week before his transfer to the Hidalgo County Jail.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said those who knew the couple that Vasquez had recently attempted to stab his wife with a fork, but the incident went unreported.
Neither Vasquez nor his wife had a previous criminal history, the sheriff said. Both are illegal immigrants.
In the past three years, 23 percent of the homicides investigated by sheriff's deputies have been domestic violence-related, Treviño said. During the same time, 56 percent of aggravated assaults have been domestic-related, as well.
"Prevention is possible through awareness programs," Treviño said in a statement. "Victims should report any domestic violent act immediately. They should not wait for the incident to worsen."
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