AZ - Kristina Howato, 39, pregnant Lyft driver, stabbed to death by passenger, Tempe, Jan 2019

[Shin Masamura]

A pregnant Lyft driver was stabbed to death over the weekend in Arizona by a passenger, police said Monday.

Kristina Howato, 39, was in her third trimester of pregnancy and working for Lyft when she dropped off the suspect, Fabian Durazo, at an apartment complex early Sunday morning, police in Tempe said in a statement.

Durazo, 20, attacked Howato with a knife while she was inside the car and continued the attack after she exited her sport utility vehicle, police said. Durazo eventually left the scene in Howato's vehicle, Tempe Police Sgt. Ron Elcock said.

Police responded to a call about a stabbing at around 1:15 a.m. Sunday and arrived at the scene to find Howato with multiple stab wounds, Elcock said.

She was taken to a hospital where she and her unborn baby were pronounced dead.

Her vehicle was equipped with GPS technology, which police said helped in locating the suspect. He was arrested on Interstate 10 in Quartzsite, Arizona.

Police said when interviewed, the suspect admitted to stabbing Howato and taking her vehicle.

"Throughout our careers as officers, we have incidents that really, really touch our hearts and stay with you throughout your careers," Elcock said at a news conference Monday. "This is definitely one of those incidents that really is going to affect the police department for a long time, and the community will think about this for a long time."

Durazo faces charges of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of theft of means of transportation, one count of armed robbery and one count of kidnapping. Authorities said he was booked in La Paz County Jail but will be transported to Maricopa County Jail.

A spokeswoman for Lyft told NBC News in a statement Monday the company is assisting law enforcement with its investigation.

"We were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of this tragedy, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims," the spokeswoman said. "The safety of the Lyft community is our top priority."
Pregnant Lyft driver stabbed to death by passenger, police say

 

[lymom3]

Oh no. How horrible. RIP.

 

[moonriverfarm]

You cannot be safe if you are a taxi or Lyft driver.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

not a big fan of the sensationalism, but here is the people version: Pregnant Lyft Driver and Her Unborn Baby Die After Allegedly Being Stabbed by Passenger

 

[Trinitee]

So sad.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

he summoned the car with the intent to steal it - so why not just steal it, why the [over]kill? Here I am, trying to make sense of something completely senseless. No one deserves this.

 

[beatrixpotter]

he summoned the car with the intent to steal it - so why not just steal it, why the [over]kill? Here I am, trying to make sense of something completely senseless. No one deserves this.

That's exactly what I was wondering after reading the article. I'm baffled. If you want a car why kill someone for it? I mean if all you want is a car this is a sure fire way to have them track you down and catch you. Otherwise I don't think car theft is real high priority with the police. And God no sympathy for an obviously pregnant woman and her baby!?! It just makes me think he wanted to kill for the sake of killing. Because it was a really bad way to go about getting a car. Maybe a ton of drugs were involved or something.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

or perhaps the fact that she was pregnant triggered something in him... or, and I hate to suggest this, maybe she resisted so he resorted to violence... Or maybe she was slow to get out of the car (she was very pregnant) and he got impatient.

Ugh, it really doesn't matter for our sake here. We are saddened and outraged regardless.