Girl, 17, accused of stabbing Uber driver to death
A 17-year-old girl has been arrested after stabbing an Uber driver to death, in what is being described as a "senseless and brutal crime".
On Tuesday, July 6, a teenage girl who has not been identified, was arrested after police responded to reports of a woman being assaulted inside a vehicle in National City, in the US state of California.
Officers arrived on the scene to find a woman unresponsive with multiple stab wounds in a vehicle which appeared to have collided with a parked car, Fox 5 reported.
The victim has since been identified as 58-year-old Raquel Spohn Wehber, who was working as an Uber driver.
“The senseless and brutal crime that took the life of Raquel Spohn Wehber is heartbreaking and our thoughts are with her family," Uber said in a statement to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
After police found Ms Spohn Wehber, witnesses told officers the suspect had fled the scene and a woman matching the description was found with "blood all over her", Fox 5 reported.
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“While officers were searching for the suspect there were additional witnesses that were pointing out behaviour associated with somebody running and panicking that was addressed to the officers,” National City police Sergeant Ken Springer reportedly said.
"And the officers were given information that that person matched the description of the suspect that left the scene.”
The 17-year-old was detained by police and identified by witnesses and has since pleaded not guilty in juvenile court.
According to a GoFundMe set up by Ms Spohn Wehber's daughter, Daniela, the suspect was a passenger in her car at the time of the incident.
"Raquel was the glue of our family," Daniela said.
"She was filled with laughter, lived life by her own terms and always managed to make friends where ever she went. She lived life with joy and loved the time spent with her family. She will be forever missed."
Ms Spohn Wehber leaves behind two daughters and two grandsons.
"While my sister and I are appreciative of all the memories shared with my Mom, my nephews will never get to experience the greatness," Daniela said.
"They were robbed of that opportunity when she was murdered."
You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
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