St. Cloud, MN – Authorities in St. Cloud say a 23-year-old woman has been arrested and charged after her boyfriend was fatally stabbed during what she allegedly described as a “stupid argument” inside her apartment early Monday morning.
According to investigators, Katerina Ivanovna Markiv, 23, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Quinton McKay Hughes, 25. The incident unfolded around 4 a.m. when Hughes called 911, telling dispatchers he had been stabbed “by accident” after a disagreement.
Hughes reportedly began coughing and struggling to speak during the call. Police say Markiv then grabbed the phone and told the dispatcher that the knife wound was “at his left nipple.” She could be heard apologizing to Hughes as he lay injured, according to details in a probable cause affidavit.
What Officers Found at the Scene
Responding officers arrived at the apartment on the 1200 block of Washington Memorial Drive and found Hughes unresponsive on the floor with a single stab wound and a large amount of blood on his body and the surrounding area. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities say Markiv had been drinking throughout the night before the confrontation escalated.
Details From the Investigation
Detectives interviewed Markiv after issuing a Miranda warning. She told investigators that she and Hughes worked together and had been dating since October. On the night of the incident, Hughes picked her up from work, and the two returned to her apartment.
Markiv claimed she wanted to “have fun,” referring to sex, but Hughes did not. She said this led to an argument that she “made up in her head,” according to the affidavit. She told police she became irritated when Hughes “kept cutting her off” while she tried to explain her feelings.
Investigators say Markiv admitted she had been holding an 8-inch kitchen knife during the exchange. She claimed she only intended to “scratch” him but instead “swung it forward,” striking his chest.
Detectives quoted Markiv as saying a sudden reaction took over:
“Something in my head got triggered to where my hand just went forward and it shanked him… it just happened.”
She also reportedly told police, “Sometimes I don’t even know my own strength.”
Markiv said she immediately tried to apply pressure to the wound and urged Hughes to call 911, telling detectives she did not want him to die.
Statements From Co-Workers Add Context
Investigators later interviewed two co-workers who knew both the victim and the suspect. One told police that Markiv would often become “upset and very unhappy.” Another said Markiv told him just last week that she sometimes gets “so crazy to the point she will kill somebody.”
These statements have been included in the ongoing investigation as prosecutors assess Markiv’s intentions leading up to the stabbing.
What Happens Next in the Case
Markiv is being held at the Stearns County Jail, where she remains without bond as of Wednesday. Court records show her next appearance is scheduled for Monday.
The case continues to develop as detectives piece together events leading up to the fatal stabbing and await full autopsy results.
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