Murder Charges Filed Against 2 in Stabbing

Murder charges were filed Tuesday in San Fernando Municipal Court against two North Hollywood men in the stabbing death of Bertha Herrera-Mendoza, whose body was discovered in the passenger seat of her car July 5.

Eliceo Avalos, 23, was charged with killing Herrera-Mendoza, his girlfriend, who he believed was having an affair with another man, Los Angeles Police Detective Mike Coffey said. Avalos and Herrera-Mendoza had known each other for four years and had lived together for about six months at the time of Herrera-Mendoza’s death, Coffey said.

Avalos, who was arrested Friday night, was being held without bail. He could be sentenced to life imprisonment if convicted.

Jaime Lujan, 28, who was arrested Saturday, is charged with aiding Avalos by helping him dispose of the knife and providing him an alibi for the time of the killing, Coffey said. Lujan faces a maximum of three years in state prison if convicted and was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

The two men will be arraigned in San Fernando Municipal Court on Thursday.