Woman, 23, is charged in stabbing death of boyfriend in Dublin's first homicide of year

A 23-year-old woman has been charged with murder in the city's first homicide of the year: the stabbing and beating death of her boyfriend earlier this month in an apartment, according to authorities and court documents.

Crystal Espinoza is charged in the death of Jesus Gallegos, 23.

The killing was uncovered about 9 p.m. on May 5 in an apartment in the 5400 block of Campbell Lane.

Police said the two people had been in a dating relationship for two years and that Gallegos occasionally stayed at the apartment.

According to court documents, firefighters and paramedics were initially called to the apartment. Espinoza greeted them at the front door and led them to the bathroom, where they found an unconscious and bleeding Gallegos. According to court documents he had multiple stab wounds, lacerations and bruising. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the apartment.

Police were called and found a large kitchen knife with dried blood on it on a kitchen counter, the documents say. A hammer that also had dried blood on it was found in a bedroom.

Court documents said that in the initial contact with officers at the scene, Espinoza made statements implicating herself in Gallegos' death, but she later asked for an attorney.

Police said they still have not determined a motive in the killing, and it was not immediately clear if Gallegos was attacked in another part of the apartment before he collapsed in the bathroom.

Espinoza is scheduled to be arraigned May 24. She is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail.