Bloody spree at factory

By Edward Mason
Monday, February 1, 2010

A man went on a bloody rampage in a Leominster plastic factory yesterday morning, slashing his girlfriend’s throat, attacking a woman who came to her aid and slitting his own wrists before leading cops on a nearly four-hour chase, police said.

Aaron Noe Camey Valenzuela, 23, of Leominster and an apparent illegal alien from Guatemala, beat and then slit the throat of Elba Monges because she had or was planning to end their relationship, Leominster police said.

“It appears the attack was because of a breakup or an imminent breakup,” Lt. Michael Goldman said.

At about 7 a.m., Valenzuela went over to Monges’ work station at United Solutions in Leominster and began punching her, Goldman said.

When another woman, Mary Machado, 45, also of Leominster, came to help her, Valenzuela pulled a pocket knife, grabbed Monges from behind and slashed her throat, Goldman said. Valenzuela then lashed out at Machado, slicing her cheek, Goldman said.

Amid the morning mayhem, a supervisor pulled Valenzuela off of Monges and took him outside. Valenzuela pulled another knife and slit his own wrists, neck and abdomen and fled, Goldman said.

Valenzuela was tracked by state police dogs and a helicopter to a city-owned apple orchard, Goldman said. Leominster police obtained his cell phone number and talked to him throughout the pursuit. Valenzuela, cold and bleeding, surrendered to police about 11 a.m.

Police said they have no record of domestic disputes between the couple, who were not living together at the time of the attack. But Valenzuela attacked her nearly a month ago at the factory, Goldman said, and was moved to another part of the plant for her safety. Company president Edward Zephir Jr. declined comment.

Valenzuela has been charged with assault with attempt to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault and battery, according to police.

Monges had surgery at University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center and is in stable condition, police said. Machado was treated and released.

Valenzuela is at Leominster Hospital, where police expect him to be arraigned.

Valenzuela, a Leominster resident, was deported in 2006 but returned illegally to the United States from Guatemala, Goldman said.

From: http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100201bloody_spree_at_factory_cops_galpal_co-worker_hurt/