Marblehead woman fatally stabbed in Perkins Township

PERKINS TOWNSHIP - Police have arrested and charged a man accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend from Marblehead when she visited his residence in Perkins Township on Wednesday.

Brandon Twarek, 29, was charged with murder late Thursday evening after being released from the hospital. He is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Karen Holmes, 22, of Marblehead, after she met with him to retrieve personal belongings, according to Perkins Township police Chief Ken Klamar.

"At some point, she ends up in (Twarek's) car, back at (Twarek's) apartment and that’s where the assault happens," he said. "As we continue on, everything’s pointing at Brandon (Twarek)."

Perkins Township police received a call Wednesday afternoon from Danbury Township police, asking for a welfare check at the address in the 1500 block of East Bogart Road in Sandusky, where Brandon Twarek lived with his stepfather and mother, Klamar said.

"(Twarek) was found in Ottawa County with injuries to his hands," Klamar said. "It was learned that he was involved in an altercation here in Perkins Township."

While police were en route to the Bogart Road residence, Twarek's stepfather called police after arriving home and finding Holmes in a bedroom, apparently deceased. At that point police were dispatched to treat the scene as a possible homicide.

When officers arrived, Twarek's stepfather was still on the phone with dispatch and confirmed that a young woman at the residence had been stabbed.

Twarek was taken to Mercy St. Vincent's Medical Center in Toledo to be treated for the injuries to his hands, under the watch of police, and had to be sedated because he was combative. Klamar said police heard Twarek talk about the altercation and said he mentioned the victim's name, Karen Holmes.

Police found Holmes' car early Thursday morning at a gas station along U.S. 250, and said security cameras recorded Holmes getting out of her car and into Twarek's vehicle on Wednesday morning.

Klamar said he was informed that the cuts to Twarek's hands were not the result of defensive action, but were consistent with an aggressive act toward the victim and were consistent with her wounds.

Detectives who processed the crime scene with the aid of the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation recovered multiple weapons from the residence, and believe at least one of them was used in the fatal stabbing.

"I don’t have an official confirmation, but I do believe that we’re in possession of it," Klamar said regarding a possible murder weapon.

After being released from the hospital, Twarek was taken back to the Perkins Township police station, where he was read the Miranda warning and asked by detectives if he would talk.

"He asked for an attorney and that was the end of it," Klamar said. "So he’s not talking to us."

Twarek was taken to the Erie County jail, where he is being held without bond.

"Our detectives are continuing to work the case," Klamar said. "It’s going to be a tedious process, but we’re going to have to do our best to turn every stone."

jstinchcom@gannett.com

419-734-7504

Twitter: @JonDBN