Man accused of stabbing wife

A Glendale man has been charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of his estranged wife last Friday.

Daniel Leonard Olivera, 33, was charged Tuesday with domestic-violence murder, a first-degree felony, and three third-degree felonies: aggravated assault and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child.

Prosecutors say a man was baby-sitting a 10-year-old boy and a 6-month-old baby in Lisa M. Olivera's apartment at 2303 S. Green St. (640 East) while the Oliveras and other residents of the apartment were out for the evening.

When they returned, Daniel and Lisa Olivera started to argue, and the baby-sitter went outside to smoke, according to charges filed in 3rd District Court. After seeing Daniel Olivera run by him toward Green Street, the sitter went inside the house and saw Lisa Olivera bleeding from the neck on the kitchen table.

A Salt Lake police officer who responded to the scene also saw Lisa Olivera on the kitchen table. He went upstairs and found a child crying and a woman sleeping with an infant in her arms, according to the charges.

Lisa Olivera died from a single stab wound to the neck, prosecutors say.

Daniel Olivera's sister told police he had shown up covered in blood Friday at her Glendale house on California Avenue and said he had just stabbed his wife. He threatened to hurt the sister and her roommate, the charges state.

The sister's roommate told police he had received a phone call from Olivera early that morning, asking him to come to Lisa Olivera's residence. The roommate went over and fought with Daniel Olivera outside the apartment building, then ran away down the street when Daniel Olivera came back out of the home chasing him with a large knife, according to the charges.

Jail booking documents said the 10-year-old boy found his mother after hearing the argument.

Daniel Olivera was arrested around 10 a.m. Friday when he was found on a bicycle behind a church near 1300 South and 1200 West.

Olivera has a criminal record that includes aggravated assault, assault by a prisoner, disorderly conduct and attempted production of a controlled substance. Twice this year, Olivera has been arrested and taken to court because he was wanted in New Mexico on a probation violation.

e-mail: pkoepp@desnews.com