A Houston man is facing charges after allegedly pursuing and fatally stabbing his girlfriend at her place of work, according to local law enforcement. Santos Hernandez Cornejo, 53, is accused of the murder of Argelia Diaz Maya, 50, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday.
The Houston Police Department, in a probable cause arrest affidavit, stated that Hernandez Cornejo had been lying in wait outside the Burnin’ Shell restaurant where Maya was employed as a dishwasher. It is alleged that he confronted her with a concealed knife as she exited the establishment. Following a heated argument, Maya attempted to flee back into the restaurant, but Hernandez Cornejo pursued her and stabbed her multiple times, according to police reports. Maya was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Hernandez Cornejo fled the scene but later surrendered himself to authorities. During his post-Miranda questioning, he reportedly confessed to the murder of his girlfriend. He allegedly told detectives that he suspected Maya of infidelity, leading him to install a tracking device on her vehicle and a listening device in her bedroom.
Surveillance footage from the scene reportedly captured Hernandez Cornejo discarding the bloodied knife in a nearby field. The weapon was later recovered by the police.
Local news outlet KTRK reported that Hernandez Cornejo, a native of El Salvador, has been living in Houston for nearly 20 years. He is currently under an immigration hold. The police described the murder as “very aggressive” and “calculated.”
Initially, a judge set Hernandez Cornejo’s bond at $350,000, but it was subsequently reduced to $50,000, according to jail records. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 19.