Utah man charged with murder in ‘brutal’ stabbing of girlfriend

A St. George man is accused of brutally stabbing his live-in girlfriend to death.

Jonathon David Cross, 43, was charged Friday in 5th District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.

According to a probable cause statement, police received a call Thursday just before 8:30 a.m. from a woman who said her husband was on the phone with Cross, and that Cross said he had killed his girlfriend; that he wanted to die; and that he had a knife.

The woman’s husband told Cross to drive to a police station and put down the knife. Cross did, in a car registered to his girlfriend, Lisa Breinholt. That’s where was taken into custody, then taken to a hospital because he said he was suicidal, according to police.

Officers found Breinholt’s body in the bedroom of an apartment just southwest of Interstate 15 and West Dixie Drive. According to police, she had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Witnesses said that Cross and Breinholt, who had been in a relationship for 5-6 years, had argued and, according to police, “there was damage … showing that [Cross] used force to enter the room where Breinholt’s body was found.”

“The room was extremely bloody,” police wrote in the probable cause statement, noting that it was apparent Breinholt died “in an extremely violent and brutal manner.” Breinholt had also suffered “defensive wounds on her hands,” the document states.

When Cross was released from the hospital, he was booked into the Washington County jail, where he is being held without bail. His first court appearance was scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Editor’s note • Those who are experiencing intimate partner violence, or know someone who is, are urged to call the Utah Domestic Violence Link Line, 1-800-897-LINK (5465), or the Utah Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Line, 1-888-421-1100.