HOUSTON, TX – Authorities say a Houston man is behind bars after allegedly tracking down his longtime girlfriend at her workplace and fatally stabbing her in a violent confrontation shortly after midnight on Saturday.

Police allege that Santos Hernandez Cornejo, 53, killed Argelia Diaz Maya, 50, at the Burnin’ Shell restaurant, where she worked as a dishwasher. Investigators say Hernandez Cornejo waited for Maya outside the restaurant, arming himself with a concealed knife.

According to court documents, when Maya exited the restaurant, Hernandez Cornejo confronted her, leading to an argument between the two. As the conflict escalated, Maya tried to escape by running back inside the restaurant. Hernandez Cornejo followed her and, authorities say, stabbed her multiple times throughout her body in the restaurant’s kitchen area.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene but were unable to revive Maya, who was pronounced dead at the restaurant. Law enforcement officials described the stabbing as both “aggressive” and “calculated.”

Investigators say that after fleeing the scene, Hernandez Cornejo disposed of the knife in a nearby field. Surveillance footage allegedly captured him discarding the weapon. Police later recovered the knife as evidence.

Not long after the attack, Hernandez Cornejo turned himself into law enforcement. According to arresting officers, he admitted to the killing after being read his Miranda rights. He also told detectives that he suspected Maya of infidelity, revealing that he had placed a GPS tracker on her vehicle and a listening device in her bedroom in the weeks leading up to the incident.

During an initial court appearance, Hernandez Cornejo identified himself as an El Salvadoran national who has lived in Houston for nearly 20 years. Authorities have placed an immigration hold on him as the investigation continues.

Jail records showed that a judge first set Hernandez Cornejo’s bond at $350,000 before it was later reduced to $50,000. His next court date is scheduled for August 19.

The deadly attack has drawn renewed attention to domestic violence in Houston, with advocates urging those experiencing abuse to seek help. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the homicide.