Gaithersburg woman convicted of stabbing boyfriend to death

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — A Gaithersburg woman was convicted of murdering her 20-year-old boyfriend after stabbing him to death during an argument in 2023, authorities said Friday.

Jennifer Espinoza-Orellana, 22, was found guilty by a grand jury of murdering Jose Manuel Zavala Marquez. The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning a guilty verdict, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The fatal incident occurred on Sept. 10, 2023, when Espinoza-Orellana and Marquez got into an argument at his home in the 8000 block of Shady Spring Drive. Investigators discovered the woman followed Marquez outside and stabbed him in the chest with a kitchen knife, piercing his heart.

After the stabbing, Espinoza-Orellana took Marquez’s body to a family member’s home and waited at least four hours before taking him to Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville; It was announced that he died here.

Espinoza-Orellana faces up to 40 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2025. The case attracted great attention for its disturbing details and tragic outcome.