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Florida Mother Tried To Fight For Her Life As Husband Fatally Stabbed Her Before Killing Self

Crime scene tape. This image does not depict incident mentioned in story [Screenshot Prath]

[Screenshot Prath]

Brianna Lyman News and Commentary Writer
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A Florida mother desperately tried to fight for her life after her husband fatally stabbed her in front of their three young children in a murder-suicide Monday night, according to authorities.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call Monday in Deltona around 6:15 p.m., after a 10-year-old boy ran to a neighbor’s house for help after his step-dad fatally stabbed his mother in the throat, according to police.

Upon arrival, police found 26-year-old Byanca Cruz dead and 31-year-old Oscar Salazar in grave condition with knife wounds to his neck, according to police. Salazar later died at a local hospital.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Cruz was “loaded with defensive wounds” and in “a fight for her life,” according to Fox News.

Police say the couple was arguing about Salazar’s “discipline of one of the children,” when he attacked Cruz with a knife. Salazar had previously been charged with aggravated battery in 2016 for assaulting Cruz while she was pregnant, police said.

“The children will need a lot of love and support as they deal with this tragedy today and for the rest of their lives,” Chitwood tweeted. “I am just so sorry for their pain. We are making arrangements with family members and will make sure these kids have everything they need.”