Boyfriend Arrested in Woman's Fatal Stabbing

JoAnne Javier, 24, was found stabbed to death inside her car in Carlsbad

A woman was found stabbed to death inside her car Friday afternoon, leading  police to later arrest her boyfriend as a suspect in her murder.

According to officials, police received a 911 call around 4:30 p.m. reporting a woman in need of medical attention inside a vehicle in a parking lot near the 5800 block of Van Allen Way.

The woman -- identified Sunday by the Medical Examiner's office as 24-year-old JoAnne Javier -- was bleeding from her chest, police said.

When authorities arrived, Javier was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Medical Examiner later determined that her cause of death included stab wounds of the neck, torso and upper extremities.

Police immediately began investigating Javier's suspicious, fatal stabbing. A few hours later, detectives developed information on a male suspect believed to be responsible for the North County homicide.

That suspect was Javier's boyfriend, 28-year-old John Monta.

Monta is also the father of Javier's 3-year-old child, friends of the victim told NBC 7.

Assisted by the San Diego Police Department, Carlsbad detectives went to Monta's apartment in the 2200 block of Dunlop Street in Linda Vista shortly before 10 p.m.

After an hour-long stand-off, officers were able to coax Monta out of the home and he was taken into custody on suspicion of Javier's murder.

Monta’s father told NBC 7 that the suspect is dying from lymphoma and had just undergone a bone marrow transfusion. When Monta surrendered to police, he exited his Linda Vista home carrying a medical bag in his hand.

NBC 7 was the only news crew at the scene during Monta’s arrest Friday night. The suspect seemed surprised when he was taken into custody, saying he didn’t know what was going on.

A police source told NBC 7 that a surveillance camera in Carlsbad captured the suspect’s silver vehicle near the scene of the victim’s stabbing. That led police to Monta’s apartment.

According to friends, Javier was a dental assistant at a North County dental office on Van Allen Way. Her body was found by a co-worker who went to look for her after she didn’t come back to the office from her lunch break.

At this point, a motive for the murder is unknown. Friends of the victim told NBC 7 the couple had been arguing a lot lately.

Criminal defense attorney Gretchen Von Helms told NBC 7 that Monta’s alleged medical condition could play a role in his defense in court.

“That type of medication, the law allows that to excuse conduct more readily,” explained Von Helms. “It can reduce the culpability of somebody who would have otherwise done some bad deed because they weren't really doing it on purpose, if you will.”

Monta was booked into Vista Detention Facility on one count of first-degree murder and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

On Sunday, NBC 7 confirmed that Monta was employed at an EZ Lube oil change store on Genesee Avenue in Clairemont.

One of Monta’s co-workers told NBC 7 that Monta was currently on leave from his job because he is battling cancer. The co-worker also confirmed that Monta has a son and separated from his child’s mother about a month ago.

Monta’s co-worker was completely shocked by news of his arrest in connection to Javier’s murder and said Monta was a “nice guy” who was always great with customers.
 

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