California man accused of stabbing fiancée who was pregnant with twins

NAPA, Calif. (TCN) — A 40-year-old man faces charges after allegedly killing his 33-year-old fiancée and her unborn twins.

According to the Napa Police Department, on the morning of June 8, officers responded to a report of a deceased female, later identified by the Napa County District Attorney’s Office as Hailey Privett. Investigators named Ernie Solis, who the Press Democrat reports was engaged to Privett, the primary suspect.

Investigators determined Solis allegedly repeatedly stabbed Privett, killing her and her unborn twins hours before her family found her body. The victim’s twins were reportedly due in December.

According to court documents reviewed by the Press Democrat, two of Privett’s children woke up on June 8 and discovered blood droplets and a bloody knife sheath inside their home. The children allegedly observed that their mother’s bedroom door was locked and her vehicle was missing. The Press Democrat reports that another family member forced entry into the bedroom and discovered Privett deceased. A third child was reportedly sleeping in a separate bed in the room.

Solis allegedly knew about Privett’s pregnancy and messaged a relative, “I’m really thinking about saying that we need to have an abortion and just wait for a better time to have kids. That should wise her up.”

Authorities tracked Solis in Fairfield and apprehended him on the night of June 9. Three days later, the district attorney’s office said they charged Solis with three counts of murder, as well as the special allegation of multiple murder — the unlawful killing of more than one person. If convicted, Solis faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

Solis was reportedly convicted in 2013 of a knife attack in Napa and received a sentence of 10 years in prison. He was also convicted in 2019 of assaulting another inmate but released on parole in May 2024.

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