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Woman stabbed to death on evening jog one week after engagement


A woman has been stabbed to death during her evening run just one week after she got engaged and started planning her wedding.

Wendy Martinez, 35, was jogging through 11th Street NW in Washington DC at 8pm on Tuesday when she was attacked and stumbled into a nearby restaurant for help.

Customers at Tommy Wu’s restaurant desperately tried to save Ms Martinez, but she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

“I saw her fall down, and then I see a hole in her neck from the stab wound. My customers were screaming, and there was blood all over her face and neck,” Mr Wu said.

Ms Martinez had just got engaged to her partner Daniel Hincapie a week before the attack.

<span>Wendy Martinez, 35, was jogging in Washington DC at 8pm on Tuesday when she was attacked. Photo: </span>DC Police
Wendy Martinez, 35, was jogging in Washington DC at 8pm on Tuesday when she was attacked. Photo: DC Police

“[She was] everything you hope that a daughter and a friend could be. She was also excited to be planning her upcoming wedding to her fiancé Daniel Hincapie. They were engaged just last week,” a family statement read.

A knife was recovered near the crime scene, but Police Chief Peter Newsham, who was among the first to respond to the scene Tuesday night, declined to describe the weapon believed to have been used in the attack.

Chief Newsham said police are searching for a black male wearing a mustard-coloured shirt, dark sweat pants rolled up to his ankle and white sandals with white socks.

Police released security vision of a man they wish to speak to over the attack. Photo: DC Police
Police released security vision of a man they wish to speak to over the attack. Photo: DC Police

The description is based on a grainy surveillance video from the Chinese restaurant’s security camera.

Ms Martinez worked as chief of staff for FiscalNote, a Washington, D.C.-based software company.

On Wednesday, FiscalNote released a statement saying it is “shocked and deeply saddened” to learn of Ms Martinez’s death.

“Wendy was an invaluable member of our team and a vibrant member of the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy’s family and friends,” the statement said.

Police are offering a US$25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.