New Mexico woman accused of fatally stabbing boyfriend, claiming he stabbed her first

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (TCD) -- A 40-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend to death and claiming he stabbed her first.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, on Sunday, May 1, at approximately 4 a.m., officers from the Albuquerque Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing at the Desert Willow Apartments on Jefferson.

At the scene, authorities reportedly found Martin Miera suffering from multiple stab wounds to the head, face and neck, including a cut to the throat just below his jaw line and severed Achilles tendons on both ankles. He allegedly died on the bathroom floor, and a silver knife was recovered nearby.

The victim’s girlfriend, Michelle Morgan, reportedly knocked on her neighbor’s door covered in blood and told her to call police. Morgan claimed her boyfriend stabbed her in the leg first, and then she grabbed a knife and stabbed him multiple times, KRQE-TV reports.

The neighbor allegedly told authorities she had heard arguments between Morgan and her boyfriend in the past, and Morgan once told her that her relationship with Miera had been emotionally and physically abusive.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, Morgan was transported to the hospital for lacerations on her right leg and knuckles, as well as bruising to her hand.

During an interview, Morgan told detectives she and her boyfriend went to a casino and then to La Luz trail, where they got into a verbal altercation, the Albuquerque Journal reports. Morgan reportedly left the trail and took her boyfriend’s car, leaving him behind. Miera allegedly came back home shortly after.

According to a complaint obtained by the Albuquerque Journal, a detective wrote, "Michelle said Martin was upset and retrieved a knife from the kitchen."

The detective added, "At this point Michelle began to explain the events surrounding the death of Martin Miera. There were numerous inconsistencies in Michelle’s version of what occurred during the struggle between her and Martin and how he ultimately sustained his numerous observed injuries."

Morgan changed her statement after being confronted about the inconsistencies and told authorities she grabbed the knife from the kitchen and severed Miera’s Achilles tendons to stop him. Morgan also reportedly told detectives that her boyfriend was weakened from abdominal surgery and weighed under 140 pounds.

Eventually, Morgan admitted to fatally stabbing her boyfriend, the Albuquerque Journal reports. According to the complaint, Morgan said she was overcome with "rage and adrenaline" and did not know how many times she stabbed the victim.

Morgan was arrested May 1 and charged with second-degree murder, records show. She remains held without bond.

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