Man Accused by Police of Killing Girlfriend Because He Didn’t Like Her Haircut

• Carmen Martinez-Silva was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend Benjamin Garcia, say police
• Police accuse Garcia of also stabbing the victim’s brother, who is expected to survive
• Garcia allegedly tried to attack two other people at the scene, police say

A Pennsylvania man has been arrested on several charges, including murder, for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death over her haircut. 

Carmen Martinez-Silva, 50, was fatally stabbed on Sunday, Nov. 3 at an East Hempfield Township, Pa., home, Lancaster County officials said in a statement. 

The statement did not name the victim, but she was identified on a GoFundMe page by her family, as well as several outlets including Lancaster Online, PennLive and ABC27.

Benjamin Garcia, 49, was arrested in connection with the killing, per unspecified court documents cited by the outlets. (The suspect is referred to as Benjamin Garcia Gual in news reports but his last name is listed as “Garcia” in online court records).

Police responded to the residence on Sunday after receiving reports of stabbings when the callers said the suspect was “standing there with a knife in hand,” according to charging documents cited by Lancaster Online and PennLive. 

At the location, police found Martinez-Silva deceased and her brother, Luis Martinez-Silva, with several stab wounds. Garcia was allegedly found with a silver kitchen knife, per the charging documents. (Luis is expected to survive, according to all three outlets.)

Martinez-Silva’s daughter told police that Garcia allegedly stabbed the victim over her haircut, per a probable cause affidavit and police statements cited by PennLive, Local 21 News and Lancaster Online.

A witness, identified as Martinez-Silva’s family member, told police: “Carmen cut her hair, which angered Benjamin,” per ABC 27.

“[The suspect] told her he was going to stab her over her haircut,” the witness said.

The daughter told police that her mother reportedly spent the night at her place because of Garcia’s alleged threat over the haircut, according to the affidavit cited by PennLive and Local 21 News.

On Sunday morning, Martinez-Silva reportedly went to Luis’ home, and told another person, Hector Burgos, to notify Garcia that she was planning to leave him, per the affidavit. Burgos told police he could not find Garcia at his place. 

Meanwhile, Garcia allegedly came to Luis’ home searching for Martinez-Silva. When Luis, in order to protect her, told him she wasn’t there, Garcia allegedly left for a bit before returning and stabbing Luis, investigators allege in the affidavit.

He allegedly began stabbing Martinez-Silva when she tried to get him off her brother, Burgos told police, per PennLive, Local 21 News and ABC 27.

The affidavit alleges that Garcia also swung the knife at Burgos and another witness, but missed on both occasions.

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In a GoFundMe shared by the victim’s daughter on her Facebook, Martinez-Silva’s family said they are raising fund to put her to rest properly. 

“The family is devastated by this loss, we would’ve never imagined a tragedy like this would happen to our beloved Carmen,” read part of the fundraiser. 

Online court records show Garcia is being held on several charges including criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide, several counts of aggravated assault and endangering another person. He is being held without bond. 

Online court records did not show a defense attorney listed for Garcia, nor did the records indicate if he has entered a plea.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.