What started as an argument over a Valentine’s Day gift ended with a Miami man in trauma surgery and his girlfriend in jail, according to investigators.
Deputies say 36-year-old Bentoria King stabbed her boyfriend multiple times during a fight on Feb. 14 near Northwest 51st Street and Northwest 21st Avenue. The man was left with puncture wounds to his neck, back and the top of his head and was taken to Jackson Memorial’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he underwent surgery. Authorities later tracked King to a hotel in Doral and took her into custody.
According to Local10, the stabbing happened around 4:20 p.m. on Valentine’s Day at the Northwest Miami-Dade intersection. Investigators say King and the victim, who had previously lived together but are now homeless, got into a dispute over a Valentine’s Day present that quickly escalated. An arrest report alleges King grabbed a silver homemade knife and stabbed the man several times, then fled on a bicycle. Deputies later found her at an Extended Stay America Premier Suites hotel in Doral, where she was arrested.
Arrest, booking and court status
Jail records show King is charged with one count of attempted felony murder causing injury and is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to the Miami Herald. The outlet reports the victim was taken to Jackson Memorial’s Ryder Trauma Center and underwent surgery after the stabbing.
Following her arrest, King told deputies she had been involved in an altercation with the victim but denied stabbing him, according to the arrest affidavit cited in court records.
What the charge can carry
Attempted felony murder is classified as a first-degree felony under Florida law and can be punishable by imprisonment for a term of years up to life, per the Florida Statutes. To secure a conviction, prosecutors must show the defendant committed an intentional act that could have caused death. Surveillance video, medical records and witness statements referenced in the arrest report are expected to play a key role if the case goes to trial.
At this stage King remains presumed innocent and is represented by a public defender, according to court documents.
Records and neighborhood context
Public records indicate King has prior arrests for child neglect without great bodily harm and for committing or engaging in prostitution, according to Local10. The arrest report does not say what the disputed Valentine’s Day gift was.
Investigators say the probe remains active as they gather evidence before referring the file to prosecutors. The case is pending in Miami-Dade courts, and this story will be updated as new filings or hearings become public.
