LIVE TWITTER FEED: Graphic court testimony heard during stabbing case
OGDEN — Tawnee Baird’s family sobbed as they listened to a cell phone call Victoria Mendoza made to friends admitting she killed the woman she had been partners with for five years.
Mendoza, 22, is charged with murder in the Oct. 18, 2014, death of Baird’s death. Prosecutors said Mendoza 46 times.
Mendoza admitted to killing Tawnee Baird, 21, who died on Oct. 18. Mendoza told police she and Baird were fighting while driving on Interstate 15 when she “lost it,” pulled out a knife and began stabbing her girlfriend, according to a probable cause statement.
The courtroom was packed with supporters of both women.
Graphic details of what happened that night were given in testimony.
“I was in so much shock,” said Aaryn Murphy, a friend of the two women, who recorded phone calls Mendoza made to him shortly after midnight on Oct. 18, 2014. He had visited with both women earlier in the evening.
Murphy said he normally does not answer his phone after midnight, but Mendoza called several times and he decided to answer it.
Mendoza generally used Baird’s phone to make phone calls, Murphy said.
Murphy put the phone on speaker and recorded the conversation when he realized she was upset. Mendoza was talking to Murphy and his roommate.
The conversation between Murphy, his roommate and Mendoza was played in court. It was graphic and expletives were used.
Mendoza told Murphy “I went crazy. I didn’t mean to do it.”
When asked where the person is, Mendoza is heard crying.
As the conversation continues, Murphy asked Mendoza, “Where’s Tawnee?”
“She’s dead,” Mendoza said sobbing.
Then Mendoza is heard saying, “She’s breathing. Wait. Tawnee, Tawnee.”
“Take her to the f… hospital,” one of the men shouted at her.
Then Mendoza says, “She’s dead,” Mendoza says.
There is more conversation between the three then, “You stabbed her uh,” the roommate says.
Mendoza kept apologizing and refused to tell the men where she was at.
“This is no f… game, V,” the roommate said.
Mendoza’s sister, Cindy Spencer, also took the witness stand. She testified that Mendoza called her and said she had hurt Baird.
Spencer and her husband drove to the church parking lot where Mendoza said she was. When they got there, Spencer asked where Baird was.
“She said she’s over there and pointed to the car,” Spencer said.
Spencer said with her voice breaking, Mendoza walked over to the car, “Leaned in and turned on the lights.”
“She was freaked out,” Spencer said about her sister.
Defense attorney Michael Studebaker asked who had the upper hand in the relationship between the two women.
Spencer said, “Tawnee.”
When asked why, Spencer said it was because Baird had a car, a phone and received money from her family.
Spencer testified Mendoza and Baird used several illegal drugs.
Contact reporter Loretta Park at 801-625-4252 or lpark@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @LorettaParkSE. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SELorettaPark.
