Police: Woman, 66, stabbed to death by husband

On Saturday afternoon Pasodale Road looked like any other neighborhood in the Lower Valley with flags over the porch and swings under the shade. But early Saturday, the streets were lined with police.

“At 12:40 this morning El Paso police responded to a(report of a) stabbing,” said police spokesperson Daryl Petry.

Police said 74-year-old Isaac Duarte used a knife to stab his wife, 66-year-old Maria Duarte.

When police arrived, they said they found Maria Duarte unresponsive and suffering from several stab wounds in the neck and back.

They said Maria Duarte died of her injuries.

Police say Issac then tunred the knife on himself and sustained minor injuries.

Issac Duarte has been booked into the El Paso County detention facility and charged with murder.

Duarte’s bond has been set at $200,000.

Neighbor Velia Grishom was awakened by the commotion.

“I don’t know how many cars of police were here,” said Grishom.

She soon got the bad news her long-time friend Maria was dead.

“Oh my God I’m tore up. I just couldn’t believe it happened,” said Grishom.

Grishom said Maria was a kind woman who took care of Isaac when he was ill, even finding time to help a neighbor in need.

“We used to have coffee and she would fix something to eat and bring it to me because I was hear by myself,” said Grishom.

Grishom told ABC-7 that Isaac and Maria Duarte got into heated arguments.
She said she had seen Issac get mad “and say ‘I don’t want her. She’s dirty. She’s dirty’.” said Grishom.

The saddened neighbor says Maria didn’t deserve to die the way she did.

“I’m going to miss her real bad but what can you do? She’s with the good Lord and I know she went to heaven,” said Grishom.

Maria Duarte’s daughter didn’t want to be on camera but she did tell ABC-7 her mother was a caring woman, although she knew her mother and father had a difficult relationship.

El Paso police said this is the ninth homicide of the year.