New update in Seattle paper

I apologize for the grim posting, but I know that some people don't know the whole story, so here it is...


DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FACTOR ADDED TO CHARGES

MURDER SUSPECT REPORTEDLY HAD HISTORY OF ABUSE

Thursday, April 24, 2008
Section: News
Edition: Final
Page: B2 BY HECTOR CASTRO P-I reporter

A Seattle man has been charged with second-degree murder, accused of repeatedly stabbing his wife with a 13-inch barbecue fork in front of their two young children Friday.

In filing the charges against Juan Carlos Bonilla, 33, King County Prosecutor Daniel Satterberg added an aggravating factor - that the slaying was committed as an act of domestic violence.


Debra Lynn Bonilla, 38, suffered at least a dozen stab wounds, including one to her heart, in the attack at her Beacon Hill home. She died at Harborview Medical Center several hours after the attack. She had five children, three from a previous marriage.

Juan Carlos Bonilla was ordered held in the King County Jail on $1 million bail. He will be arraigned May 6.

If convicted, he would be looking at a standard range of 12 to 20 years in prison, though prosecutors have indicated they may seek an exceptionally higher sentence.

Bonilla has a history of assaulting his wife, according to court documents.

In 2001, when the couple lived in Alaska, Bonilla allegedly beat his then-pregnant wife, breaking her nose. He also allegedly threatened to stab her to death.

In 2003 in Minnesota, Bonilla was arrested for assaulting his wife, but it was unclear if he was convicted. Last year, Seattle police arrested him again for assaulting her.

Debra Bonilla sought a protection order that day, writing in her petition that her husband threatened to kill her if she cheated on him and constantly believed she was unfaithful.

It was unclear what may have set off Juan Carlos Bonilla on the night he is accused of killing his wife.

A roommate told police she had dinner with the family earlier that evening and spent time afterward with Debra Bonilla as the woman described the problems in her marriage, including her husband's drinking.

Debra Bonilla told the woman that "the protection order was basically unenforceable because Juan Carlos would always come back and force his way into the house."

Later that same night, the family ferret escaped. Debra Bonilla asked her roommate to help catch the animal, but the roommate declined and headed for her room.

Minutes later, she heard a scream. It wasn't long before the couple's 6-year-old son ran to the roommate for help, screaming, "Daddy stabbed Mommy!"

The roommate found Debra Bonilla in the back yard, a bent and bloody barbecue fork nearby. When police arrived, Bonilla was still conscious. She told officers that her husband had attacked her, according to the court documents.

Then she said, "I am going to die."

Police used a dog to track Juan Carlos Bonilla.