NORTHGLENN - An illegal immigrant has been arrested after police say he fatally stabbed his girlfriend.

Police believe Melvin Amaya-Martinez, 34, stabbed his girlfriend, Carmen Benitez-Sanchez, early Wednesday morning in an apartment located in the 10000 block of Huron Street.

By the time Northglenn Police arrived at the scene Amaya-Martinez had fled. Witnesses, including the victim's adult son and his wife, told police Amaya-Martinez had stabbed Benitez-Sanchez on the side of her body. She was taken to Saint Athony's North Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Amaya-Martinez was located and arrested shortly after. He was taken to the Adams County Detention Facility where he admitted to being an illegal immigrant from El Salvador. He is being held on first-degree murder charges.

Police are asking anyone with additional information to contact them at 303-450-8857.

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