A 23-year-old St. Cloud woman faces second-degree murder charges after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend in the chest early Monday morning, an attack prosecutors say was sparked by a rejected sexual advance and a “minor disagreement.”
Katerina Ivanovna Markiv was charged Tuesday in Stearns County District Court with two counts of second-degree murder—one with intent and one while committing a felony assault—in the death of 25-year-old Quinton McKay Hughes.
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According to the criminal complaint filed Wednesday, police responded to a 911 call around 4 a.m. from Markiv’s apartment on the 1200 block of Washington Memorial Drive. Dispatchers heard a chaotic scene on the line: a man, identified as Hughes, told operators the couple had a “minor disagreement” before Markiv stabbed him. In the background, Markiv could be heard apologizing.
When officers arrived, they found Markiv applying pressure to a stab wound in Hughes’ chest. Despite lifesaving efforts, Hughes was pronounced dead at the scene.
In interviews with investigators, Markiv allegedly provided a chilling account of the moments leading up to the violence. She told police the argument began after Hughes rebuffed her desire to have sex and kept interrupting her while she was trying to speak.
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“Something in my head got triggered,” Markiv reportedly told detectives. She admitted to grabbing an 8-inch knife and swinging it, though she claimed she “didn’t realize he was that close” when the blade made contact.
The couple had been dating since October and worked together at a local business. A co-worker told investigators that Markiv was known to be “emotional” and would often have to step away from work when upset.
The witness also alleged that Markiv had previously made a disturbing comment, admitting that “she gets so crazy to the point she will kill somebody.”
Markiv remains in custody in the Stearns County Jail on $500,000 bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Monday.
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