According to police, a Pennsylvania man murdered his girlfriend by stabbing her multiple times “throughout her body” with a kitchen knife after she received a new haircut that he disliked.
Benjamin Garcia Gual, 49, is accused of murdering 50-year-old Carmen Martinez-Silva at her brother’s mobile home in East Hempfield Township on Sunday, Nov. 3, following an alleged disagreement over Martinez-Silva’s new hairdo the night before.
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In his criminal complaint, obtained by Law&Crime on Thursday, Lancaster County authorities describe how Martinez-Silva was “scared” of Gual and stayed with her daughter, Yamaris Knight, following their alleged fight.
“Yamaris stated that Carmen cut her hair, which irritated Benjamin,” the complaint reads. “Carmen relayed to Yamaris that Benjamin told her that he was going to stab her over her haircut.”
Martinez-Silva left her daughter’s house around 8:21 a.m. on Nov. 3 and went to see her brother, Luis Martinez-Silva, to ask if he could “tell Benjamin that their relationship was over” and “get his stuff” out of the mobile home they shared, according to the complaint.
Police interviewed a witness who saw the incident unfold at Luis Martinez-Silva’s residence, which was also a mobile home, and recounted what allegedly occurred.
“Benjamin came to [his home] looking for Carmen and he explained to Benjamin that Carmen was not present, attempting to protect Carmen, although she was inside the trailer,” according to the complaint! “[The witness] then told officers that Benjamin had left but returned minutes later to the scene. Luis approached the front door, and Benjamin began stabbing him.
According to police, Gual “utilized a kitchen knife” to stab Luis Martinez-Silva and then Carmen Martinez-Silva “multiple times throughout her body,” killing Carmen and seriously injuring Luis in the head, chest, abdomen, and arm.
Carmen Martinez-Silva “attempted to pull Benjamin away from Luis, which is when Benjamin started stabbing Carmen in a backward motion,” according to the complaint. Gual allegedly “swung the knife” toward the witness, attempting to stab him but missing.
Another witness told police that he tried to get a gun to stop Gual, but the alleged killer turned his kitchen blade on him as well.
“[The witness] said that he went to the scene attempting to help the victim’s when Benjamin swung the knife toward [his] face but missed,” according to the complaint!
According to 911 callers, Gual remained at the scene — “still standing there with knife in hand” — before hiding inside a Toyota Corolla until police arrived. He was also treated for injuries, but it’s unclear how he got them.
“Police ordered him [Gual] out of the vehicle and located a silver kitchen knife with a black handle on the passenger seat of the vehicle with brownish red staining,” according to the complaint!
Officers from the East Hempfield Township Police Department arrested Gual on charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and recklessly endangering another person. He is being held in Lancaster County Prison without bail.
Martinez-Silva’s daughter, Yamaris, has spoken out on Facebook about dealing with the tragedy of her mother’s death, as well as sharing a GoFundMe page for her.
“My beautiful mother is no longer with us,” she stated on Tuesday. “I’m sorry to those I haven’t responded to, I have no words at this time.”
“The family is devastated by this loss,” Martinez-Silva’s GoFundMe description reads.
According to court records, Gual has yet to hire a lawyer, and his next court appearance date is unclear. Attempts to contact Martinez-Silva’s family for comment were unsuccessful.
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