Karen Elaine Cordova Arrested For Allegedly Stabbing A Robber To Death, Critically Wounding Another (UPDATE)

2ND UPDATE: Arrested Erie Woman That Stabbed, Shot Robbers Is RELEASED

Karen Elaine Cordova, 48, was arrested Monday for allegedly stabbing two men who broke into her Erie, Colorado home where she grows medical marijuana -- killing one and and critically injuring the other -- is being formally charged with what will likely be second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder Thursday.

According to the Longmont Times-Call, Cordova claims that Stephen Erikson, 34, and Kyle Dust, 31, broke into her house Saturday while she was home. Cordova confronted the two men and allegedly stabbed both of them, Erikson in the belly, leaving a 5-inch wound above his belly button cutting his stomach and liver, leaving Erikson alive but critically injured.

SECOND UPDATE:

Karen Elaine Cordova was released from Weld County Jail late Thursday and the district attorney's office announced that no charges will be filed against Cordova at this time, however the investigation remains open, according to The Denver Post.

More details have emerged from the alleged robbery and act of self defense from Cordova. Sheriff's spokesperson Margie Martinez spoke to the Daily Camera saying that Cordova never reported the robbery attempt or the fact that she had stabbed or shot anyone before the investigators arrived at her door on Monday.

Martinez went on to state to the Daily Camera that it was her understanding that investigators did not recover any weapons when searching Cordova's property, but did find some of the marijuana plants had been pulled from their pots. Martinez also states to the Daily Camera that the Colorado's "Make My Day" law will be taken into consideration, especially due to the nature of Dust's fatal gunshot wounds, before making any further arrests.

However, it hasn't been revealed where Dust was shot, but if he was shot in the back it could reveal he was fleeing the crime scene at the time which could further complicate this already complex story.

UPDATE:

As more details emerge, this case of apparent self-defense gets more complex. The Denver Post reports that Weld County Coroner's autopsy report on Kyle Dust revealed that he died of a gunshot wound, not a stab wound, as the suspect, Karen Cordova originally told the police investigating the case.

Stephen Erikson, who was stabbed, remains in the hospital in critical condition.

EARLIER:

7News reports, that Erikson, still alive, staggerd into his Erie home when one of his roommates called 911. Erikson was taken to Lafayette Samaritan Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

In the police report Cordova is reported by the Longmont Times-Call as saying:

I am not going to lie, what would you do if someone broke into your house at 2:30 in the morning? I'm a single woman.

The Denver Post reports that although the attempted robbery and stabbings happened Saturday morning, Dust, the accomplice, was not found until Monday. Detectives returned to Cordova’s home where they found Dust’s body at the edge of her property, the Longmont Times-Call reports, when according to the police report Cordova said:

Oh my God, I didn't know that I killed him. They were coming for me. They were coming for me.

The investigation got more complex when it was discovered that Erikson met Cordova two weeks prior, learned that Cordova ran a medical marijiuana business out of her home and then scouted her home for a later burglary by posing as a home repair consultant to Cordova. Erikson broke into Cordova’s house once before, either Friday or earlier Saturday, and then later returned on Saturday with Dust to rob her again, the Longmont Times-Call reports.

Cordova is being held in Weld County Jail on $400,000 bail.

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