1100 block San Benito St. — Approximate Stabbing Report Location
A 34-year-old Hollister woman died on Oct. 17 after stabbing her domestic partner, carjacking her own sister at knifepoint, and leading police on a chase that stretched from San Benito County into San Jose before she turned a blade on herself. Authorities identified the woman as Vanessa Garcia, a Hollister resident whose violent morning triggered a pursuit involving at least four law enforcement agencies.
A Stabbing Call Sends Officers Scrambling
Hollister police were dispatched to the 1100 block of San Benito Street at about 9:46 a.m. on Oct. 17 after a stabbing was reported, according to CrimeVoice. Garcia’s domestic partner had already left the scene before officers arrived and called 911 himself, and investigators later found him at a nearby carwash suffering from two stab wounds to his chest and neck, per Hollister Free Lance. At that same carwash, Garcia’s sister reported that her car had just been taken from her at knifepoint.
Garcia fled the area armed with two knives, the Free Lance reports. Hollister police used Flock surveillance camera data to determine that the stolen vehicle had last been seen leaving town, then issued an alert to neighboring law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for her.
Reckless Driving, a Head-On Crash, and a Second Carjacking
A vehicle matching the suspect’s description was soon reported driving recklessly eastbound on Highway 152 near Casa de Fruta. According to the same report, Garcia’s vehicle then collided head-on with another car, causing one of the vehicles to overturn. The CrimeVoice account of the crash notes that Garcia exited the disabled vehicle and carjacked another motorist at knifepoint before continuing west on Highway 152 toward Gilroy…