A Chicago man, 31-year-old Alejandro Arellano, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend, 26-year-old Samantha Maldonado. In her final moments, Maldonado identified Arellano as her attacker, providing a critical piece of evidence in the case, according to First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter.
Arellano and Maldonado were co-workers, and they had been in a relationship for approximately six months before breaking up. On the night of the incident, they were seen together at Miller’s Pub in downtown Chicago. Maldonado was later observed fleeing the bar, with Arellano closely pursuing her.
Maldonado sought refuge on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) station platform, where surveillance footage allegedly captured Arellano taking a folding knife out of his pocket and attempting to stab her. Maldonado tried to hide and then board an arriving train, but her ex-boyfriend prevented her from doing so.
According to prosecutors, Arellano approached Maldonado from behind and stabbed her multiple times. Fatally wounded, Maldonado managed to escape her attacker and stumbled down the stairs before collapsing in the street. Witnesses, including security guards from Miller’s Pub, came to her aid, and when asked who had stabbed her, Maldonado reportedly replied, “Alejandro.”
Maldonado was taken to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Acting on the information provided by the victim, police arrested Arellano less than 14 hours later. During a police interview, he allegedly identified himself in the surveillance video and admitted to arguing with Maldonado and “poking” her once with a knife.
A court appearance is scheduled for March 31 for Arellano, who is currently being held without bond.