St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in fatal stabbing of Meraux woman

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in fatal stabbing of Meraux woman

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office has booked an Arizona man with the fatal stabbing of a Meraux woman that is believed to have occurred Sunday, June 21 in Meraux, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Dexter Mutongerwa, 31, of Tolleson, Arizona, was booked with second degree murder June 22 for fatally stabbing an 18-year-old female from Meraux.

Shortly after midnight on Monday, June 22, the Kenner Police Department responded to a report about a single car accident near the 500 block of Interstate 10 westbound.

When Kenner officers located the vehicle in question parked on the side of the interstate, they came into contact with a male driver, later identified as Mutongerwa, who was bleeding from a laceration to the hand. Officers then observed a female lying in the backseat of the vehicle, suffering from several stab wounds.

The 18-year-old female victim was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Mutongerwa also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for the laceration on his hand and released to deputies for questioning. While in custody, Mutongerwa confessed to stabbing the woman multiple times earlier in the night at a location in Meraux.

Sheriff Pohlmann said this was an isolated incident and Mutongerwa and the victim knew each other.

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, along with the Kenner Police Department, is working together in this ongoing investigation. No further details are available at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau’s tip hotline at (504) 271-TIPS or 8477.

Citizens who want to share information with detectives can do so anonymously by calling this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sheriff Pohlmann said all calls will be acted upon. If a detective isn’t available to answer, the Sheriff said callers can leave a detailed message, and either choose to provide their contact information, or remain anonymous.

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