Man Arrested In Mexico Following Stabbing Of Watsonville Woman

WATSONVILLE, CA — Mexican authorities detained a man suspected of stabbing girlfriend Robin Kern, 32, to death in her Watsonville apartment, police said.

Alberto Scalant, 33, was arrested on suspicion of murder at a routine checkpoint in the hours following the discovery of her body, according to a statement from the Watsonville Police Department.

Watsonville detectives headed to the border early Wednesday to begin the process of extraditing him back to Santa Cruz County, which could take days. Scalant could face murder charges upon his return, police said. Scalant was not in Santa Cruz County Jail as of Thursday morning.

Family members found the woman's body in her apartment in the 300 block of Clifford Avenue. Police were notified shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Detectives quickly identified Scalant as a suspect, police said. Scalant was on parole on a domestic violence conviction at the time of his girlfriend's death and has served prison time on domestic violence charges, police said.

Detectives issued a nationwide and international alert for Scalant. Mexican authorities in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, arrested him a couple of hours later.

The woman's death was the second time in less than a year that a young Watsonville mother was killed and that a romantic partner was implicated.

Brenda Becerra, 24, was found slain in October in her family car near Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz hours after she was reported missing. Cesar A. Hernandez, 47, was arrested near the U.S.-Mexico border and charged with murder.

He pleaded not guilty. Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick ordered him held in May on a charge of murder and two enhancements, committing serious and violent felonies, court records show. Enhancements can be tacked onto a charge to increase any potential punishment. Hernandez's next court date is Aug. 17.

Anyone experiencing domestic violence may confidentially contact Monarch Services at its 24-hour hotline, 1-888-900-4232. Monarch Services can offer resources or information or discuss potentially unhealthy qualities of a relationship with a caller.