Watsonville man accused of fatally stabbing girlfriend, fleeing to Mexico
A Watsonville man accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend and fleeing to Mexico has been arrested, according to police.
On the evening of Tuesday, July 13, officers responded to an apartment on the 300 block of Clifford Avenue, where the 32-year-old victim’s family members had reportedly found her dead inside her apartment.
Investigators quickly identified 33-year-old Alberto Scalant as the primary suspect, issuing a nationwide and international alert to law enforcement agencies.
Police say that Scalant, meanwhile, attempted to flee to Mexico but was detained at the San Luis Río Colorado checkpoint by Mexican authorities, who’d already gotten the alert out of Watsonville.
Investigators traveled to the checkpoint to begin the extradition process. Once back in Santa Cruz County, Scalant is set to be charged with his girlfriend’s murder.
Police say that, at the time of the murder, Scalant was already on probation for domestic violence.
