Toledo man arrested on charge of murder in connection with January stabbing death of woman

2/28/2013
BY MARK ZABORNEY
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Toledo police have arrested a West Toledo man on a charge of murder in connection with the New Year's morning stabbing death of a woman at an Alexis Road bar.

Hector Alvarado, Jr., 40, of 637 Sterling St., was being held in the Lucas County jail tonight. Police located him earlier in today at another Toledo residence and brought him to the Safety Building for questioning, Sgt. Tim Noble said.

He is to be arraigned Friday in Toledo Municipal Court.

Christina Henderson, 23, was stabbed in the neck at the South Beach Bar, 2114 West Alexis Rd. Police were called to the bar shortly before 2 a.m. Jan 1 and found people fighting. As police separated patrons, someone yelled that a person was stabbed in the throat. Ms. Henderson was found on the ground at the rear of the parking lot.

Ms. Henderson was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. 

Witnesses at the time told police that the crowd was orderly and celebrating the New Year when brawls broke out.

The stabbing "occurred during a free for all -- a riot would be a good description," Sergeant Noble said. Police do not believe Ms. Henderson and Alvarado knew each other.

Police have conducted a lengthy investigation since.

"There were a lot of witnesses in that bar," Sergeant Noble said. "The investigators put a lot of hours into it and were able to establish probable cause."

Police are still tracking down witnesses, but no other arrests are expected, Sergeant Noble said.