Thread: UT-Orem man, 27,of fatally stabbing wife appears in court

Orem man, 27, accused of fatally stabbing wife appears in court
By Stephen Hunt



Updated: 01/19/2010 06:27:52 PM MST


A 27-year-old Orem man accused of fatally stabbing his wife appeared Tuesday in Provo's 4th District Court on one count of first-degree felony murder and several other charges.

Roberto Aguirre Ramirez allegedly killed 36-year-old Norma Leticia Villalobos-Guzman by stabbing her in the chest during an argument at their Orem home on Jan. 4.

Ramirez also tried to kill himself, according to court documents.

A roommate told police he heard the couple arguing in their bedroom. Villalobos-Guzman then exited, covered with blood, and asked the roommate to call the police before she sat down on the floor, court documents state.

Then Ramirez, carrying a knife, came out and stood next to his wife, saying to her, "You and I are going to die today," the roommate told police.

Ramirez then stabbed himself in the right side of his chest and slit his wrist, according to court documents.

When police arrived, Villalobos-Guzman, who was on her back in her bed, extended her arms to them and said, "Help me," court documents state. Ramirez was on the floor next to the bed.

Both were taken to a hospital where, despite several hours of open-heart surgery, Villalobos-Guzman died, according to court documents.

During initial paramedic treatment, Villalobos-Guzman was conscious and making contradictory statements, but said at one point that Ramirez stabbed her.

Ramirez was stabilized and taken to an intensive care room. He also gave police contradictory statements, including that someone else had stabbed his wife.

A daughter of Villalobos-Guzman who has been living with other family members later told police she had seen Ramirez hit her mother with a fist and a chair during the past four months.

Villalobos-Guzman resided in the country illegally, according to police.

Ramirez -- convicted of felony drug charges in 2008 -- served 210 days in jail, followed by deportation to Mexico, according to court documents.

In connection with the homicide, Ramirez is also charged with felony counts of obstructing justice, domestic violence in the presence of a child, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and possession of a controlled substance.

Ramirez is to appear in court again Jan. 27 for a scheduling hearing.


http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14224365

I am angry enough to wonder how much the drug conviction, incarceration and original deportation of Ramirez cost taxpayers, plus the emergency treatment after this incident? Would have been cheaper to close the borders, as this is not an isolated incident committed by illegals anywhere in this country.