New York slaying suspect arrested in Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE -- U.S. Border Patrol on Tuesday arrested a New York City man wanted in connection with the stabbing death of his girlfriend, authorities confirmed.

Segundo Penafiel, who was allegedly fleeing to Mexico, walked into the arms of police at a Brownsville bus station Tuesday afternoon, three days after police discovered 21-year-old Ebony Garcia laying in a pool of blood in New York, said Detective Brian Sessa with the New York City Police Department.

Authorities tracked Penafiel and were waiting for him when he stepped off the bus, Sessa said.

Garcia's slaying garnered national attention after media reports that neighbors said they heard the dying woman scream for nearly 30 minutes before calling police.

About 2:10 a.m. Saturday, police discovered Garcia bleeding to death from dozens of stab wounds outside an apartment in the New York borough of Queens, according to press reports.

She died about two hours later at an area hospital.

Witnesses told police she and Penafiel were seen drinking at a local bar hours before her death, despite the restraining order Garcia had taken out against the man.

The U.S. Marshals Service and Brownsville Police Department assisted with the arrest; however, Brownsville police officials refused to confirm Penafiel's arrest Tuesday night.

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Sean Gaffney covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4434.