Robert Lopez, 35, is accused of second-degree murder in the death of
19-year-old Brandi Bernard last Thursday. An autopsy found Bernard died
of multiple blows to the head. Family members said Bernard was about 10
weeks pregnant with the couple's child.
In January 1994, Lopez stabbed Libby Williams 13 times on her face,
neck, head, torso, arms and hands, nearly killing her. Surgeons had to
remove half of a 7-inch knife from Williams' skull and ear, according
to newspaper reports at the time.
The stabbing took place in Bethlehem, Pa. Family members said Williams
was trying to break up with Lopez at the time.
Assistant Attorney General David Ruoff declined to discuss Lopez's
criminal history Sunday. He said investigators are still trying to
determine what weapon was used in Bernard's death.
Lopez's sister, Brunilda Lopez of Manchester, told the Sunday News he
was released from prison in January and moved to Manchester, where he
began dating Bernard in April.
Brunilda Lopez said her brother sneaked into her apartment after
killing Bernard, took off his boots and put on her son's sneakers, then
drove away in her 2004 Ford Explorer.
"I love my brother, but he deserves what he gets," she said.
Bernard knew about Lopez's criminal past, but stayed with him anyway,
she said.
"She had a huge heart," Brunilda Lopez said. "She wanted to help him.
She loved my brother so much. Why, I don't know."
Lopez was arrested Friday at his mother's home in Newark, N.J, and is
awaiting extradition to New Hampshire.
His mother told the Sunday News that he apologized for the killing.
"He said, 'Ma, Im sorry. I just flipped. She kept saying she was going
to take the baby away from me,'" Carmen Torres said. "I said, 'Robert,
that's not a reason why you gotta do that to her."
The victim's mother, Christina Chenette, said her daughter never
mentioned Lopez's criminal past.
"She only knew what he wanted her to know," Chenette said. "He conned
her. ... She didn't know the other side of Robert, obviously. None of
us did."
Bernard and Lopez fought a lot, and last week Bernard moved back into
her mother's house and told Lopez they couldn't be together unless he
got help, Chenette said.
Lopez apologized and promised to get help. He convinced Chenette to let
him live with them until he could find another place to live, she said.
"I felt it would be OK because I was there to watch over her," the
victim's mother said.
Lopez's mother said both Bernard and Chenette knew about Lopez's past,
but told her they thought he deserved a second chance.
His mother and sister both said Lopez was jealous and accused Bernard
of having other lovers. He also suspected that the baby might not be
his, they said.
In one telephone conversation, according to Torres, Lopez said, "If the
baby's not mine, I'm going to rip her neck off."
Brunilda Lopez said her brother's suspicions were unjustified.
"She loved my brother," Brunilda said. "She went straight home to that
man."
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/local/12213566.htm
E/C Annie wrote:
> Posted on Sun, Jul. 24, 2005
> MANCHESTER, N.H. - The man accused of killing a Manchester woman last
> week spent more than a decade in prison in Pennsylvania for stabbing a
> previous girlfriend in 1994, according to the New Hampshire Sunday
> News.
>
<snip>
OMG, he's bald and she was pregnant.......... annie
Photos at this site:
http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showfast.html?article=58176
Oh well, too bad for her. She chose to date a "bad boy", and look what
it got her. Stupid cunt.