An elementary school teacher from Sterling, Illinois faces attempted murder charges after his partner’s throat was slashed.
Police said they were told a 29-year-old man had cut his own throat after a domestic disturbance involving 26-year-old Maria Garnica Jr. at a home in the 400 block of East Everett in Dixon, Illinois just after 9:30 p.m. January 19, 2015. Garnica was listed as a first-grade bilingual teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Sterling, Illinois.
Surgeons were able to save the man whose throat was cut, but police had to wait until he recovered enough to tell them what happened. Court records showed an emergency order of protection was issued against Garnica a week later, on January 26. After investigators spoke to the victim, their investigation became one of attempted homicide.
Garnica was arrested Tuesday, February 3, 2015, in connection with the investigation. Garnica was charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated domestic battery, two counts of armed violence and two counts of aggravated battery. All of the charges are felonies.
Garnica was held in the Lee County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bond.
He was still listed as a staff member on the school’s website as of Wednesday morning, February 4.
