San Marcos Child Stabbed 26 Times: DA

At the first court appearance for suspect Daniel Hernandez, prosecutors revealed the brutality of the crime

The man charged in the fatal stabbing of a San Marcos woman and the stabbing of a child 26 times was held on $5 million bail and considered an “extreme danger to society.”

Daniel Hernandez, 28, of Vista, was arrested in the death of Antonia Marie Duran, 41, and the assault on an 8-year-old girl inside Duran’s San Marcos apartment.

San Diego County sheriff’s deputies were called to the complex on North Twin Oaks Valley Road at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday by a man reporting that his mother and sister had been stabbed.

Deputies say Hernandez was found at a laundromat hours later washing his bloodied clothes and shoes.

At the arraignment Thursday, prosecutors revealed the brutality of the crime. Duran’s throat was slashed and she was stabbed 22 times according to the prosecutor.

Her daughter was sleeping but woke during the attack and screamed "Leave my mom alone!" the Associated Press reported.

Authorities say Hernandez then decided to eliminate her as a witness.

The girl was stabbed 26 times. Her liver, kidney and pancreas were punctured according to the AP. She is expected to survive her injuries officials said. She has not been identified. She’s currently in a medically-induced coma at Rady Children’s Hospital.

Duran (pictured right) and Hernandez met at a gas station two months prior to the attack but the nature of their relationship is unknownaccording to prosecutors.

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He was ordered held on $5 million bail.

There is a readiness hearing set for next week with a preliminary hearing scheduled January 7, 2013.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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