Bay Area stabbing suspect identified as Venezuelan migrant

The Bay Area stabbing suspect in the killing of a 68-year-old Martinez retiree has been identified as Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, a 36-year-old Venezuelan national. Authorities say Todd Stewart was fatally attacked on the front lawn of his home last week, and surveillance video captured the violent assault outside the quiet Bay Area residence.

The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that Iriarte-Valdez is a “Venezuelan illegal alien” and described the case as one that happened in “sanctuary California.” In a post on X, the agency urged California Gov. Gavin Newsom not to release the suspect from jail and said he should be turned over for removal from the country. Martinez police later said Iriarte-Valdez was arrested Friday evening at his apartment complex and taken into custody without incident.

Police said the suspect had already been on pretrial release in a residential burglary case tied to April 29 burglaries in Orinda. He was jailed last Tuesday for allegedly violating the terms of his home-detention monitoring, then released the next day on his own recognizance by a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge and sent back to home detention. Less than 24 hours later, Stewart was dead. Martinez Police Chief Andrew White said the home-detention equipment apparently was not placed on the suspect until Friday, after the killing.

Investigators moved quickly after the attack, using surveillance footage, automated license-plate recognition technology and tips from residents who recognized the vehicle connected to the case. White said the technology helped officers locate the vehicle and trace where it had been, while community tips helped guide the search. Police later found Iriarte-Valdez at his apartment complex and arrested him. He is being held on $1.1 million bail.