CMPD investigating murder-attempted suicide in east Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Crime tape and police cruisers filled the parking lot at an apartment building in east Charlotte early Sunday.
 
A call to 911 led officers to the Woodlands Apartments on Woodbend Drive.
 
"A male subject was threatening suicide and possibly doing harm to his girlfriend," Lt. Ryan Jackson said.  
 
It was inside a unit that investigators said they found Maria Rocha, 43, fatally stabbed. 
 
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officials said officers found her boyfriend, Miguel Hernandez, 45, in the same room. 
 
They said he also had stab wounds but determined his to be self-inflicted. 
 
The investigation was quickly labeled a murder-attempted suicide. 
 
Hernandez was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center.
 
He will be charged with murder after he is released from the hospital, investigators said.
 
Back at the scene, police collected evidence and interviewed any witnesses.
 
"He asked me if I heard anything and I said no," Douglas Medina said. "I hear nothing."
 
Medina lives one the first floor of the two-story apartment building.

He said police came to his door but he was little help. Medina said he didn't know the couple. In fact, he thought only men lived there.
 
"I believe there are two roommates but no kids," Jackson said.
 
Police haven't said what led up to the stabbing. 
 
Neighbors are hoping for answers soon.   
 
"Shocking because I know people around here," Ana Fernandez, who lives in the apartment building, said. "I didn't know it was so close."
 
"I've been over here a year and a half," Rick Austin said. "It's the first time something like this has happened."

Anyone with any information is asked to call 704-432-TIPS or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.