Katerina Ivanovna Markiv, 23, from Minnesota, has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, 25-year-old Quinton McKay Hughes, to death during a heated argument. The incident occurred at her apartment in St. Cloud around 4 a.m. on a Monday.
According to the arrest affidavit, Hughes called 911 reporting an accidental stab wound following a minor disagreement. Markiv took the call and identified the wound near his left nipple, apologizing during the conversation. Emergency responders found Hughes unresponsive with significant bleeding and attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Markiv told investigators that she and Hughes had been dating since October. On the night of the stabbing, after Hughes refused her advances, a “stupid a— argument” ensued. She said she swung a knife towards him intending only to scratch him, but instead stabbed him unexpectedly and deeply. Markiv described the action as a reflex she could not control.
She urged Hughes to call 911 and tried to stop the bleeding, expressing she did not want him to die.
Co-workers reported that Markiv could become very upset and had previously admitted to acting dangerously, including saying she could kill someone when extremely angry.
Markiv is currently held at Stearns County Jail with a court appearance scheduled for Monday.
