Calif. man pleads guilty to stabbing his girlfriend, leaving her to bleed to death in front of their children

SALINAS, Calif. (TCN) — A 31-year-old man recently admitted to fatally stabbing his girlfriend and mother of his children multiple times before fleeing their home.

Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni announced that on Jan. 8, Rodrigo Bravo pleaded no contest to second-degree murder with the use of a knife in connection with the death of Eleni Tavau. Bravo is set to be sentenced on March 5 and will receive 16 years to life.

According to an initial press release from the Salinas Police Department, in June 2023, officers responded to a stabbing on Natividad Road, where they found Tavau with multiple stab wounds. Her toddler-aged children were reportedly home when officers arrived. Tavau was transported to a hospital in critical condition, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Upon further investigation, authorities learned Bravo went to the home earlier that day even though Tavau had a domestic violence restraining order against Bravo prohibiting contact. While at the residence, Bravo and Tavau got into a dispute before Bravo “pulled out a knife and stabbed” his girlfriend several times, puncturing her aorta.

Bravo fled the scene, “leaving their two children with Tavau as she bled to death,” prosecutors said.

According to police, Bravo later turned himself in and was initially charged with murder, felony child endangerment, violation of probation, and violation of a domestic violence restraining order. Per KSBW-TV, officers observed traces of blood on Bravo during his arrest.

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