PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Upper Darby police said they learned about an apparent murder in Montgomery County when a man used a translation app on his phone to tell them he killed his ex-wife.
Freddy Mendieta Pando, 23, is charged with first-degree murder and other counts.
He is accused of stabbing and killing Karina Torres, 23, last Saturday along the Schuykill River Trail near Betzwood Park in Lower Providence.
The criminal complaint said he showed up at Upper Darby police, spoke Spanish into his phone, then showed it to two detectives.
The screen said, “I killed my partner.”
According to court documents, Mendieta Pando was arrested for choking Torres in their home in Upper Darby back in July. He was out on bail.
Torres had applied for a protection from abuse order, and a hearing was scheduled for the day her body was found.
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The criminal complaint said Mendieta Pando met Torres in Upper Darby and the two drove to a spot near the Schuylkill River Trail.
He told detectives that while they were parked, she pulled a knife, but he took it away from her and stabbed her repeatedly.
According to the complaint, he moved her body into the woods near the trail, then threw the knife and her phone into the river.
“This tragic killing of Karina Torres is the worst end result of domestic violence. The victim was previously strangled and sought help from police, who charged the defendant. Karina then obtained a Protection of Abuse Order. But sadly, the defendant was able to reach her and ultimately killed her,” said District Attorney Kevin Steele in a statement.
“People who are strangled by a spouse or intimate partner need to know that they are in serious danger—they are likely to be killed by that person, as in this terrible case. Women experiencing domestic violence need to know there is help available. Reach out to Laurel House or the Women’s Center of Montgomery County. They can help.”
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