A New Jersey woman was stabbed to death in her own living room by her home health aide, police said.
Myrlande Dornelus, 41, was arrested Friday on first-degree murder and weapons charges in the April 13 death of 62-year-old Anna Pollard, who was found dead by police in her Elizabeth home with multiple stab wounds, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday.
Dornelus, in a bloodstained dress, met cops who responded to Pollard’s home, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
She claimed Pollard attacked her with a knife, prompting her to wrestle away the weapon and stab her patient, court documents show.
An autopsy found Pollard was stabbed in her stomach, liver and aorta. She also had a collapsed lung and a doctor found defensive wounds to her hands, the affidavit states.
Dornelus was taken to a hospital for her injuries, including 25 superficial stab wounds, primarily to her chest.
Hospital staff said did they not find any signs of defensive wounds on the home health aide’s arms or hands, court documents show.
Prosecutors did not offer a motive for the attack.
Dornelus has been a state-certified home health aide since 2007 and her license was active at the time of the alleged slaying, state records show.
Dornelus was expected to appear in court Wednesday, but the hearing was postponed until Monday, a spokesperson for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office said. She remained in custody at the Essex County Jail on murder and unlawful possession of a weapon charges, inmate records show.
If convicted, she faces up to life in prison.