Hayward Man Fatally Stabbed Wife While Daughter Watched: Police

HAYWARD, CA — A 40-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday for allegedly fatally stabbing his wife at their home in Hayward as their 11-year daughter watched, police and prosecutors said.

The charge against Elmer Ugarte, 40, stems from the stabbing of his wife Maria Hernandez, 38, in the 24000 block of Willimet Way in Hayward, near Birchfield Park just east of Interstate Highway 880, at about 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday.

Ugarte, who is a student according to jail records, was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday in Alameda County Superior Court in Dublin.

Ugarte stabbed Hernandez multiple times when she returned to their home on Tuesday evening, Hayward police Detective Jason Mosby wrote in a probable cause statement.

Before Hernandez came home she phoned the couple's 11-year-old daughter to lock her bedroom door because Ugarte was intoxicated, Mosby said.

Hernandez drove to the home with the couple's 12-year-old son but told him to stay in the car while she went inside, according to Mosby.

When Hernandez went inside she told the daughter to get some belongings to go to her grandparents' house, Mosby wrote.

But Ugarte called out to Hernandez and as she walked toward him he started stabbing her multiple times, Mosby said.

Hernandez fell to the ground and Ugarte continued to stab her, according to Mosby.

"The entire event was witnessed by the 11-year-old," Mosby wrote.Ugarte washed the knife and his hands and then fled in his vehicle, leaving his two children behind, according to Mosby.

The 11-year-old daughter called police to report the stabbing and multiple officers who responded to the scene found Hernandez suffering from multiple stab wounds to her torso and she was pronounced dead at the scene, Mosby said.

While Ugarte was on the run he called a family member and disclosed that he had killed Hernandez by stabbing her, Mosby wrote.

Ugarte was arrested in Mountain View at 7:52 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers who served a search warrant at Ugarte's home found a large kitchen knife with suspected blood on it, Mosby said.

In addition to murder, Ugarte is charged with felony child endangerment.

Hayward police said anyone who has information about the fatal stabbing is asked to call Detective Mosby at (510) 293-7176.

Hernandez's death is the third homicide in Hayward so far this year.

Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. — Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.