Date: Monday, November 18, 2013, 19:18
Location: 2800 Ransom Island Drive http://goo.gl/maps/Y5alt
Offense: Murder (Penal Code Section 19.02) 1st Degree Felony
Case Number: 1311180146

Corpus Christi Police Detectives are investigating their 14th criminal homicide of 2013 that occurred in the 2800 block of Ransom Island Monday evening.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a call of a vehicle crash in the 2800 block of Ransom Island at 7:18pm Monday night. Officers arrived and discovered that there was no vehicle crash, but that a 23-year-old woman had injuries that appeared to be stab wounds. The woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Officers were later notified that the women had not survived her injuries sustained in the assault.  Officers and Detectives secured the crime scene within the home of the victim, so that Forensics could process it for evidence.

Officers developed information that the person, who had stabbed the woman, was in fact her 57-year-old father. He was last seen driving away in a gold 2010 Nissan Altima. At 8:06 p.m. Officers received information that the suspect’s vehicle was at the Wal-Mart (1821 South Padre Island Drive) and was on fire. Officer’s arrived and found the suspect outside of the vehicle. The suspect was being treated for burns to his body by EMS. Officers secured the scene and consequently called for the Bomb Squad as a suspicious package had been found near the burning vehicle. Bomb Squad Officers retrieved the package and took it to a safe location for further examination. It was unknown if the package was related to the scene or had been there prior to the fire. The Bomb Squad cleared the scene and was made safe for Detectives to continue in their follow-up.

Detectives were informed Tuesday morning that the 57-year-old was transported to San Antonio for further treatment to his burns. He remains the sole suspect in the case but detectives will continue to investigate.

An autopsy is scheduled for later today by the Medical Examiner’s office.

Update: November 20, 2013: Detectives were informed that the 57-year-old man, Mulugeta Tirfe, died as a result of the burns at 6:07am. Detectives determined Tirfe was the only suspect in this homicide case and an autopsy will be conducted. Detectives continue to investigate this case and ask anyone with additional information to contact the Corpus Christi Police Detectives at 886-2741.