Suspected Venezuelan migrant arrested for stabbing retired Martinez man
Marcos Iriarte-Valdez was taken into custody on murder charges after a surveillance video linked him to the fatal stabbing of 68-year-old Todd Stewart in Martinez, California.
Authorities disclosed that Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, a 36-year-old illegal Venezuelan immigrant, is accused of fatally stabbing retired homeowner Todd Stewart, 68, on the front lawn of his Martinez residence. Iriarte-Valdez had been on pre-trial release for residential burglaries in Orinda and was briefly re-imposed on home-detention monitoring before the killing. Surveillance footage captured the attack, and police used automated license-plate recognition along with tips from neighbors to trace the suspect’s car to his apartment complex, where he was arrested without incident.
The Department of Homeland Security urged Governor Gavin Newsom not to release the suspect, emphasizing the desire to deport him. He now faces a murder charge and an additional felony count, with bail set at $1.1 million. The incident has left Stewart’s neighbors shocked, recalling the victim’s recent retirement activities.
Why it matters
The case highlights concerns over public safety, immigration enforcement, and the handling of pre-trial release for repeat offenders.
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