A domestic argument in the southeast valley has left a 2 1/2-year-old boy without a mother and her live-in boyfriend charged with murder.
Sarah Ann Lucero, 18, was pronounced dead at 2:08 p.m. Monday at the Tropicana Royale apartments at 1900 E. Tropicana Ave. from multiple stab wounds to her upper torso and stomach, authorities said. Her throat had been slashed with a large butcher knife, Metro Police homicide Lt. Larry Spinosa said.
Daniel Kuveke, 26, was arrested by Henderson Police just before 2 p.m. Monday after he drove to a relative's Henderson home, Spinosa said. Because Kuveke suffered from several stab wounds to his body, a family member called paramedics, who in turn notified Henderson Police.
Police said Kuveke told them he was involved in a homicide at the Tropicana Royale apartments, where he lived with Lucero and her son. Officers notified Metro Police.
When officers arrived at apartment No. 265, no one answered, so they forced the door open and found the woman dead on the living room floor.
Spinosa said it wasn't clear how Kuveke was injured, and noted that his wounds "may have been self-inflicted."
The victim had moved into the complex with Kuveke about a month ago, neighbors said. Her son was staying with family members, Spinosa said. Police were attempting Monday afternoon to notify the boy's father.
Kuveke, a four-time convicted felon, was taken to University Medical Center where he underwent surgery and was in fair and stable condition, a nursing supervisor said today.
Spinosa said the argument between the couple may have occurred because the relationship was ending.
Nearby residents often heard the couple arguing.
"They fought all the time, all the time," said Suzanne Adjei-Boatright, who lives below the couple's second-floor apartment. "I'd hear her all the time, yelling that he was a lousy bum and that he needed to go to work. Today, I didn't hear anything but a bunch of banging and crashing."
Police said Kuveke was unemployed. Neighbors said Lucero, who worked in food services, wore a uniform to work.
Adjei-Boatright said that about a week ago, Lucero "came downstairs crying and I said, 'Another one of those days, huh,' and she said, 'It's always the same.'"
Another neighbor saw the couple return home about 12:30 p.m. Monday.
"I saw him looking out the window, looking at me," said Donna Wilson, who lives across the walkway from the couple's apartment. "He was just a mean guy, real mean."
"They were arguing every day. Every day," said Ulysses Spencer, who also lives across the walkway.
A next-door neighbor said he heard the couple fighting Sunday night.
"They argued last night and that was it, between midnight and 1," said Brad, who didn't want to give his last name. "I didn't hear anything today."
Rosemarie Tuscan, who has lived in the complex for 16 years, said it used to be a quiet community.
"We're shocked," she said. "We had a fire and we thought that was bad, and now this. We never used to have problems. It used to be all senior citizens. Now we have a lot of problems."
On July 1, fireworks started a fire that caused $200,000 in damage at the same apartment building. Four apartment units were destroyed. Two 14-year-old boys were arrested a day later and charged with first-degree arson.
Lucero's death marks the second murder in 18 months at the apartment complex.
On Oct. 26, 1994, 24-year-old Anthony Romero died from a gunshot wound to his chest after he and a friend argued over $150 owed to Romero by his alleged assailant. Ryan Bowden, 27, who had bought a stereo from Romero and still owed him money for it, was arrested at the scene.
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