A man beheaded a young mother with a sword outside her California home in broad daylight on Thursday while her two children were inside. Police arrested a suspect who returned to the scene shortly after they arrived.
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ABC7 News reported the beheading, which police records and witnesses described as being carried out by a sword. The attack took place in the middle of the street right outside the victim’s home at 11:50 a.m. on Thursday in San Carlos in the 300-400 block of Laurel Street and Magnolia Avenue.
The suspect, Jose Solano Landaeta had a relationship with the victim, though the victim had taken out a restraining order against him in April, according to ABC7 News. Corrections records viewed by American Military News confirmed Landaeta was booked on a murder charge and is held without bail.
At a press conference, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Eamon Allen said the victim had two children who were inside the home and did not witness the brutal killing.
ABC7 News obtained law enforcement records saying the victim was beheaded with a sword and that a call came in around 12:14 p.m. “Children are there, scared to come… want their mom.”
Child Protective Services (CPS) took custody of 7-year-old and 1-year-old girls, a dog and two cats that were inside the house.
Allen said deputies arrived “within minutes and found an obviously deceased female in the street in that area.”
“They began to work the scene and shortly then after, the male suspect arrived back at the scene and was quickly detained by sheriff’s deputies.” Allen added. “He was later placed under arrest for homicide. We can confirm that a stabbing instrument was used in the commission of the crime. That weapon is still outstanding.”
In a Thursday afternoon statement, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed “the suspect was known to the victim and this is believed to be an isolated incident.”
The sheriff’s office said it is withholding the victim’s name pending family notifications.
Neighbor Chapel Thorborne told ABC7 he witnessed the attack as he was returning home at around noon.
“The head was underneath the car and she was laying in the back of the car- just severed,” Thorborne said.
Thorborne also described seeing the suspect return to the scene.
“After he cut her head off, he came walking up, him and his two friends,” Thorborne said. “And they walked right by me and they arrested him.”
The sheriff’s office said it is offering peer support for witnesses of the attack.
