UPDATE 5:10 p.m.:
Inside a Bonita Springs home, Lee County deputies say they found a woman stabbed to death, and the suspect is behind bars. The investigation started with a delivery driver, who discovered a man covered in blood.
Watch to see body camera video of the arrest:
In released body cam video, you can see 71-year-old Salah Chellih, on his knees with his hands over his head, surrounded by squad cars. Investigators say this all started Wednesday afternoon in the Paloma community, when a delivery driver called 9-1-1 after he spotted Chellih covered in blood with two children beside him.
“While on the phone with 9-1-1, the delivery driver and another neighbor followed that male into a nearby house. They found a woman lying in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor,” said Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
Marceno says deputies rushed in to help the woman, but she died and had more than 25 stab wounds.
“Deputies and detectives quickly learned that Chellih is related to the victim, and this tragedy is a domestic violence tragedy,” Marceno said.
It’s not clear how Chellih is related to the victim. But, according to a police report, the victim’s adult daughter told detectives she had left her son and nephew in Chellih’s care, and that no one else was in the house when she left.
Chellih, who has no criminal history, is now charged with second-degree murder. Detectives say the children were not hurt.
UPDATE 11:00 a.m.:
An arrest has been made in connection to the murder investigation in Bonita Springs.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office has charged 71-year-old Salah Chelih with 2nd-degree murder.
According to Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, a delivery driver was flagged down by a man carrying two kids.
The man, later identified Chelih, was covered in blood and spoke little English, Marceno said.
As the driver called 911, the sheriff's office said the driver and another neighbor followed the man to a home nearby.
Inside, there was a woman in a pool of blood, the sheriff said during a press conference.
Deputies rushed to the scene and said she had more than 25 stab wounds.
Outside the home, the sheriff's office said the Chelih walked towards them, crouched down and put his hands behind his back.
The children with blood on them were not hurt.
Marceno said Chelih is related to the victim, but did not specify how, though he called it a domestic violence incident. Chelih also has no criminal record.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Lee County Sheriff's Office is investigating a death in Bonita Springs.
Deputies are at a home inside the Paloma gated community near Imperial Parkway and La Riviera Drive.
The sheriff's office said one person is detained and that it's an "isolated incident."
The sheriff's office said more information will be provided when it becomes available.
