Jean Pierre Ojeda Salazar: Man accused of killing GF and her teen daughter 'trying to protect mother'

MIAMI, FLORIDA: Jean Pierre Ojeda Salazar, aged 25, is facing allegations of brutally murdering both his girlfriend and her 14-year-old daughter.

Jean Pierre was allegedly trying to attack his girlfriend, but tragically, the teenage daughter became involved as she attempted to shield her mother from the assailant, Law & Crime reports. 

After Salazar's violent actions, he was brought before the court, and charges were filed against him for the killings.

What happened at the crime scene?

On November 26, Tampa Police Department officers responded to a crime scene at 8.53 am in the 14000 block of Riveredge Drive.

A 14-year-old woman was severely injured from being stabbed by the suspect Salazar.

Upon reaching the scene, officers discovered two victims - the juvenile victim who informed the police and a 35-year-old woman later identified as Alejandra Cabrejo and her daughter Mariana Cabrejo.

Both victims displayed multiple stab wounds. Alejandra was pronounced dead at the scene, while her daughter Mariana was transported to the hospital for treatment. Mariana succumbed to her injuries and was later pronounced dead.

Further investigation at the crime scene led detectives to conclude that Salazar fatally injured both victims following a verbal altercation with the adult victim.

Immediately after the incident, Salazar left the residence in a white sedan, which he later abandoned.

Investigators revealed that Salazar initially attacked and stabbed Alejandra Cabrejo inside the residence during a heated argument. The victim's daughter attempted to intervene and assist her mother, leading to Salazar stabbing her multiple times as well.

Subsequently, the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended Salazar after he fled to his brother's home in Maryland.

Jean Pierre Ojeda Salazar appears in court

On November 27, Salazar made a court appearance, during which Hillsborough County Judge Catherine Catlin directed him to remain in custody until his trial.

Notably, Salazar is charged with one count each of first-degree murder with a weapon, second-degree murder with a weapon, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the killings of Alejandra and Mariana.

The judge rejected Salazar's plea for the court to set a bond amount for his release from pretrial detention.

Catlin rendered the bond decision after considering testimony from a family friend who claimed to have witnessed Salazar committing the double murder, along with input from one of the detectives handling the case.

Prosecutors urged the court to order Salazar's continued detention without bond, stating, "We have a dead 14-year-old girl who doesn’t deserve to be dead, just trying to protect her mother. Anybody who’s willing to kill a 14-year-old to save their own skin should not be free in our society."

To which the judge Catlin claimed, "Based upon the circumstances of these two murders, I’m going to grant the state’s motion and hold you without bond."