A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after a woman was found fatally stabbed at an apartment in east Fort Worth early Sunday, according to police and court records.
Officers were initially sent to the 2100 block of Handley Drive shortly before 2:45 a.m. on August 30. They were then directed to the 6000 block of Oakland Hills Drive, roughly two miles away, where they found a woman suffering from apparent stab wounds.
Firefighters attempted to provide medical assistance, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police later identified 21-year-old Jaykel Addler Vanegas-Martinez as the person accused in the killing. He was taken into custody without incident and faces a murder charge.
Police were alerted after alleged confession
The investigation moved forward after a friend contacted police and reported that Vanegas-Martinez had told him he had stabbed his cousin.
According to an arrest affidavit, the friend said he had driven Vanegas-Martinez to an area near East Lancaster Avenue. After getting out of the vehicle, Vanegas-Martinez allegedly made a statement about stabbing his cousin and made a gesture across his neck.
The friend initially believed he might have been joking. After returning home, however, he contacted police.
The information led officers to an apartment on Farnswood Drive near the location where the woman was found.
Woman found inside apartment
When officers arrived at the apartment and received no response, they entered to check whether anyone inside needed help, according to the affidavit.
Inside, officers found the woman on the bedroom floor. Investigators reported that she had multiple stab wounds.
Police also found a large knife inside the apartment and clothing that appeared to have blood on it. The evidence was collected as investigators worked to determine what happened.
The victim has not yet been publicly identified. Her identity is expected to be released by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Suspect arrested after police locate him
Investigators learned that Vanegas-Martinez was in the area of the 4700 block of East Lancaster Avenue and had arranged for another friend to pick him up.
Officers located him near a shopping center and took him into custody. Police said he had what appeared to be recent injuries to his arms, and blood was visible on his shirt.
During an interview with homicide detectives, Vanegas-Martinez gave investigators an account of what happened inside the apartment, according to the affidavit.
He told police he had returned home early Saturday morning and later went to sleep. After waking up, he said he took a large knife into his cousin’s bedroom while she was asleep.
The affidavit states that he told detectives she pleaded with him to stop during the attack. He then said he changed clothes, showered and left the knife inside the apartment before leaving with a friend.
Investigators also documented statements Vanegas-Martinez made about using cocaine before going to sleep. Those statements are part of the allegations described in the arrest affidavit and have not been established as a court finding.
Investigation remains ongoing
Vanegas-Martinez remains accused of murder in connection with the woman’s death. The charge is an allegation, and the case will proceed through the criminal court system.
Police have not publicly identified the victim as of the latest update, and investigators have not announced a motive for the killing.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
