Gordon Friedman

Statesman Journal

A friendship that started on Craigslist.org ended with a drug-induced stabbing at a Salem Buddhist temple, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies say the stabbing occurred after Jose M. Murillo, 23, and Cynthia Veazey, 26, broke into the Buddhist Temple of Oregon on Friday night.

A release from the Sheriff's Office said that, once inside, the two used meth and Murillo became erratic, telling Veazey that he was hearing voices. He threatened to stab Veazey if she wouldn't help him find the voices.

Authorities say she tried to calm Murillo down, but he ended up stabbing her more than 10 times.

She was dragged outside the temple by Murillo and escaped into a thicket of blackberry bushes. Monks from the temple found her hours later — alive but in serious condition.

That night, Murillo was arrested by Oregon State Police troopers after walking onto Interstate 5. He was taken to the hospital and treated for a cut to his hand.

At the hospital, Veazey told officers what happened to her, and Murillo was arrested before he could be discharged. He was charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault.

He is scheduled to appear in court for formal charging 3 p.m. Tuesday.

In April, Murillo was charged with robbery, assault, use of tear gas/mace, false reporting and soliciting sex. He is scheduled to enter a plea for those crimes June 2.

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