Police said the victim suffered three lacerations and was transported to an El Paso hospital after the June 1 incident.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

SUNLAND PARK - A Sunland Park woman remains jailed without bond after police said she stabbed a household member with a kitchen knife, sending him to an El Paso hospital.

Sarahi Ortiz, 31, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated battery against a household member with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence, according to court records.

The charges stem from a June 1 incident on Palma Street in Sunland Park.

According to a statement of probable cause filed in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, Sunland Park police responded to a call involving a victim with wounds from a bladed object. An officer said he found an elderly man on the ground with three lacerations — two on his right hand and one on his outer left thigh.

The victim appeared to be going into shock and was transported to University Medical Center of El Paso, according to the statement.

A witness told police he saw a man and woman arguing near the scene, then later saw the woman walking away with a 5-gallon bucket and heard the man screaming for help, according to the statement.

Police said Ortiz later told investigators she and the victim had been together for about 10 years and had been arguing since the night before. According to the statement, Ortiz said the victim had been calling her names, then struck her and pinned her against a wall.

Ortiz told police she grabbed a knife on the kitchen counter and tried to get away from the victim, according to the statement. Police said Ortiz admitted stabbing the victim, then throwing the knife away near the residence.

In a motion seeking pretrial detention, prosecutors alleged Ortiz “openly admitted” that she stabbed the victim. Prosecutors also alleged she told officers, “I had to stab him,” and said she disposed of the knife in the residence.

The state argued no conditions of release would reasonably protect the victim or the community. Prosecutors wrote that Ortiz and the victim were common-law partners of about 10 years and alleged the incident showed a risk to the victim.

Court records show Ortiz was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center on June 1. She remained incarcerated Monday with bond listed as “no bond” and the bond amount listed as $0.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.