This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Holladay woman has been charged with stabbing her girlfriend to death while driving on the freeway.
Ogden police say that Victoria Mendoza, 22, stabbed her partner, 21-year-old Tawnee Maria Baird, to death with a knife on Friday night.
Mendoza was charged Tuesday in 2nd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony. If convicted, she could spend the rest of her life in prison.
The two had been physically fighting with each other Saturday while driving on Interstate 15, according to the statement. In an interview with the police, Mendoza "stated she 'lost it,' drew her knife from her pocket and began stabbing [Barid]" numerous times in the neck, face and chest, the statement adds.
Mendoza then drove to a church at 2484 E Ave., in Ogden, where she called her sister and another friend. Mendoza told her sister that she had killed Baird, and the sister then called 911, according to the statement.
When police arrived, Baird was already dead and Mendoza surrendered. Police booked Mendoza into the Weber County jail early Saturday morning. Ogden Police Lt. Tim Scott said she was cooperating with police after being taken into custody.
Family members told The Salt Lake Tribune late Saturday that Mendoza had been abusing Baird, and Baird wanted out of the relationship.
Mendoza has no other criminal history, according to a search of Utah court records.
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