NJ Woman Fatally Stabs Twin Sister During Fight: Prosecutor

CAMDEN, NJ — A fight between identical twin sisters got out of control over the weekend, and ended with one sister fatally stabbing the other, authorities in Camden County said.

Amanda Ramirez, 27 of Camden, was arrested Saturday and is facing first-degree aggravated manslaughter charges, according to a joint statement from Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson.

Camden County police found her twin sister, Anna Ramirez, lying on the ground in her Centennial Village Apartment while responding to reports of an unconscious woman just after 5:30 a.m. on June 22.

She was taken to Cooper University Hospital and was pronounced dead at 6:19 a.m. Amanda Ramirez was lodged in the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a pretrial detention hearing, where she may be detained or released under Criminal Justice Reform, authorities said.

An autopsy determined Anna Ramirez died of a stab wound to the chest, according to the probable cause statement provided by the prosecutor's office on Tuesday.

Amanda Ramirez was outside the apartment when officers showed up, and officers said there were several bloody footsteps leading from the victim's body to the door of the apartment. Amanda Ramirez has blood on her clothes, and told officers that when she had picked up her sister on Westfield Avenue, she looked disheveled, authorities said.

She said she took her sister home, and when they arrived, her sister collapsed and was bleeding, according to authorities. She told officers they had gotten into an argument. Amanda Ramirez was taken to the Camden County Police Department, and later to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office for further questioning.

Ramirez went on to provide two more differing accounts of the events, authorities said. In one account, she told detectives that she and her sister had been drinking at her cousin's house in Camden late Friday night, June 21. Early Saturday morning, Anna Ramirez took a taxi back to her apartment, authorities said Ramirez told them.

Amanda Ramirez said she and her friend went home to the apartment about 45 minutes later, at which time her sister was outside and appeared to be ill, authorities said. Anna Ramirez said she was going to get a cigarette, but when she stood up and began to walk, she fell to the ground, according to authorities.

Amanda Ramirez said this is when she noticed her sister bleeding from the chest and called 911. Amanda Ramirez didn't mention an argument with her sister in her second account, but detectives said they noticed scratches on both her cheeks and left eyelid, and multiple cuts on her left index finger. She told detectives she suffered those injuries in a fight that happened about a week earlier, but detectives noted in the report that injuries appeared to be fresh.

According to a third account, the sisters began fighting began when Anna Ramirez attacked her sister after the two arrived at the apartment complex from their cousin's house early Saturday morning. Amanda Ramirez said her sister initially hit her in the face, and the two exchanged blows until Amanda Ramirez ended up on her knees, according to the statement.

Amanda Ramirez then said her sister went inside, and came back brandishing a knife, according to authorities. The two struggled for control of the knife, and Amanda Ramirez said she ultimately ended up stabbing her identical twin sister in the chest.

When detectives said there were no knives found in the area, Amanda Ramirez told them she couldn't remember what she did with it, according to authorities.

During the execution of a search warrant at the apartment, detectives found several knives. One of the knives tested positive for blood, authorities said.

It was the third different story Amanda Ramirez told detectives during the course of the investigation.

Anna Ramirez leaves behind three children, according to her online obituary. In addition to Amanda, she had three other sisters: Monika Medina, Bianka Medina and Chanel Medina. Funeral services will take place later this week.

She worked as a certified nursing assistant for many years and loved spending time with her family. She had a special bond with her grandparents and enjoyed family dinners and weekly time hanging out with her sisters, the obituary said.

Her vieiwing is set for Thursday night, June 27, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, June 28, 9:30 a.m. at the Falco/Caruso and Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 North Browning Road. The funeral follows at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken.

She is also survived by her parents, John Medina and Ivelisse Class, maternal grandparents Ana and Sixto Class; paternal grandparent Awilda Medina; a niece; and many aunts and uncles. She was predeceased by paternal grandparents Juan Medina and Geneviva Gonzalez and the late Alfredo Ramirez.