Asian Woman Fatally Stabbed In RivCo In 'Random' Attack

RIVERSIDE, CA — An elderly Asian woman was stabbed to death Saturday morning while she was walking her dogs in the La Sierra neighborhood of Riverside. Later, a 23-year-old transient woman was taken into custody in connection with the attack.

Ke Chieh Meng, 64, was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead just after 8:30 a.m., officials said.

Amid an uptick of reported violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, police said they don't believe this particular incident was a hate crime. As Meng was walking her dog, she was "randomly confronted and attacked," according to Riverside Police spokesperson Officer Ryan Railsback.

"When our detectives interviewed the suspect, they didn't come across anything to suggest she attacked the victim due to her race," Railsback told CNN.

The suspect, identified as Darlene Stephanie Montoya, is a transient from Los Angeles County, officials told CNN. She was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for suspicion of murder, a weapons violation and suspicion of being under the influence of an illegal substance, Railsback said.

This was the second time in one week that Montoya was arrested by Riverside police.

She was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after she reportedly attacked a woman with a skateboard on Tyler Avenue near the 91 Freeway.

Montoya was booked and released with a Notice to Appear citation due to an emergency bail schedule prompted by the pandemic.

"The suspect is homeless from L.A. County and is obviously experiencing mental health and substance abuse issues," Railsback said, adding that "the attack could have happened to anyone."

Anyone with information regarding this incident was asked to contact Detective Dan Mercadefe at 951-353-7103 or DMercadefe@RiversideCA.gov, or Detective Brett Stennett at 951-353-7213 or BStennett@RiversideCA.gov.

The City News Service contributed to this report.