Man who stabbed girlfriend to death gets over 20 years

Published 1:30 am Saturday, June 15, 2019

Associated Press

SPOKANE — A Spokane man who stabbed to death a woman who was trying to help him clean up his life will spend more than 20 years in prison.

The Spokesman-Review reports Joseph W. K. Scheel was sentenced this week after previously pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Edna “Patty” P. Hernandez, 47, who also went by Edna Patricia Rodriguez Gomez.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Annette Plese noted that Hernandez had told co-workers that she had been abused by Scheel. Plese said Scheel was high on methamphetamines when he killed Hernandez.

Court records say Hernandez’s co-workers called Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies April 3 asking them to check on her welfare. Documents say deputies forced their way inside when Scheel resisted and found Hernandez’s body.

Hernandez died from a stab wound to the neck.