This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 9:28 PM- An ex-boyfriend's jealousy over a Magna woman's new relationship is a possible motive behind her Friday murder.
Morena Molly Robbins, 51, died about 4:15 p.m. Friday after neighbor Charles Gunkel, 52, allegedly forced his way into the woman's home and stabbed her, police said.
Gunkel was a "long-time lover" of Robbins and arrived at her house to confront her about a new boyfriend, according to a probable cause statement released by the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office on Saturday.
Gunkel allegedly produced a pocket knife and started strangling Robbins, then warned the woman's daughter not to move or he would "cut her, too," according to the statement.
He then reportedly stabbed Robbins and returned to his house, where he told his daughter that he stabbed the woman, the statement says. Gunkel's daughter called paramedics to her father's house, who upon arrival asked Gunkel if he was armed. He replied "No, the knife is in the bushes at Morena's house," according to the statement.
Police found a blood-covered knife in the area Gunkel described, the statement says.
Gunkel was booked into the Salt Lake County jail late Friday on suspicion of first-degree felony aggravated murder, first-degree felony aggravated burglary and second-degree felony aggravated assault.