‘A horrific murder’: Man charged—allegedly stabbed ex-girlfriend, roommate to death

Marvin Ortiz Montecinos, 29, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder in the first degree Monday after a double homicide investigation in Burien, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) announced.

Last Monday, two victims were found dead in a Burien apartment building, with another individual critically injured in the parking lot.

“According to police investigators, this is an individual who stabbed and murdered his girlfriend as well as her roommate,” Douglas Wagoner, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, told KIRO Newsradio. 

Suspect arrested in Burien double homicide investigation

KCSO’s primary suspect appeared to be the man found with multiple stab wounds outside the apartment building.

The “nature and origin” of the suspect’s wounds is being examined in part of the investigation, along with the stab wounds of the two victims, authorities noted.

One victim, Victoria Aparicio Cruz, was the ex-girlfriend of Montecinos, according to charging documents. Cruz received more than 20 wounds to her neck, hands, and back. Montecinos claimed Cruz ended their relationship approximately one hour before the attack.

The second victim, 33-year-old Yaneth Gómez Hernández, has been identified by family and friends as one of the victims killed in the attack. Hernández was Montecinos’ roommate and tried to intervene before she was killed. Cruz received 43 significant stab wounds in addition to other cuts and defensive wounds.

“This was a pretty horrific murder,” Wagoner said.

Montecinos has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder, and prosecutors requested that Montecinos’ bail be set at $10 million.

Burien double homicide

At approximately 9:30 p.m., KCSO deputies responded to S. 152nd Street near Highline High School.

KCSO found a victim with possible stab wounds in a parking lot outside the apartment building, who was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

“When deputies arrived on the scene, they found a man with stab wounds outside the building. He was on the ground,” Brandyn Hull, the communications manager of the King County Sheriff’s Office, told KIRO Newsradio.

Law enforcement conducted a more than 12-hour investigation, which included combing through the third-floor apartment unit.

“Detectives and deputies were canvassing the complex,” Hull said. “They were talking to anybody and everybody who might have seen anything, might know anything, or might have heard anything.”

Investigators later discovered two dead victims inside one of the apartment units. Both bodies were removed at approximately 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The case is being treated as a homicide. Law enforcement previously noted that due to the suspect being at large, there was an ongoing threat to the public.

“I feel very safe in my own apartment, so I don’t think much of it, but it is scary to think that I could step out and those things could be happening,” Hanny Ramos, a neighbor, said.

The Major Crimes Unit took the lead in the investigation. The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab will also assist in processing evidence collected from the crime scene.

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