Ex-Felon Stabs Woman To Death With Kitchen Knife A Year Since Release From Jail

A New Jersey man, who was released from prison last year after serving a sentence over a fatal stabbing, was arrested again Monday for killing another woman with a kitchen knife.

Brandon Petersen, 31, was arrested in Pennsylvania on multiple charges, including first-degree murder.

Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office identified the victim as Michele Carkhuff, a 38-year-old woman from Newton.

The incident happened Sunday night when Carkhuff was cooking dinner with the alleged attacker. The emergency officials received a report about an attack at an apartment in Stockton at 10 p.m. EST in Hunterdon county, reported local news outlet My Central Jersey.

There were two other people at the apartment during the incident. They took Carkhuff to the hospital but she succumbed to her injuries.

A witness told the police that she was hanging out with Carkhuff and Peterson at her apartment. In her statement, the witness claims to have seen Peterson grabbing a large knife and stabbing Carkhuff on the side of her neck while they were cooking.

Although Peterson was with them when Carkhuff was taken to the hospital, he later fled to Pennsylvania.

The police found a blood-stained knife while on a search at the property. They also found bloodstains throughout the kitchen and in a bathroom.

A pickup truck was missing from the apartment after the incident. It was later found parked on River Road in Kingwood, a few miles away from the apartment, according to the criminal complaint.

On Monday morning, Peterson’s girlfriend informed the police that he had contacted her asking to pick him up. The officials then traced the location and Pennsylvania state police arrested him. Peterson reportedly admitted to the police that he was at the scene while Carkhuff was injured. The motive behind the murder was not disclosed.

In 2008, Peterson was sentenced to 13 years in prison for repeatedly stabbing a neighbor on the head during a robbery in 2005. Peterson was 15 years old when he committed the crime. He robbed $200 from the 57-year-old victim outside her home for repaying a drug dealer, reported local news outlet NJ.com.

“Delaware Township mourns the senseless loss of life, and we offer our deepest sympathies to those impacted. As a community, we are greatly appreciative of the work of the Delaware Township Police Department,” Delaware Township Mayor Charlie Herman said.