A Henderson man is facing an open murder charge after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death and then calling police himself to report the killing, according to court documents.
Maurice Vanderhall, 28, was arrested Tuesday night following the death of Kennedi Oriti at a condominium complex on the 200 block of West Horizon Ridge Parkway. According to police, Vanderhall placed the call to Henderson Police, telling dispatchers, “I killed my girlfriend,” and asked officers to come and arrest him.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Vanderhall at the door, his arms and face visibly covered in blood. He let police into the condo, where Oriti was discovered dead on the floor, bearing numerous “knife wounds to her face and neck,” according to the arrest report. The coroner later determined she had sustained at least 20 stab wounds, several of which were identified as defensive wounds suggesting she had fought to protect herself.
Vanderhall told investigators he had also attempted to take his own life, claiming he stabbed himself and tried to hang himself inside a closet. Police noted self-inflicted wounds on his forearm and one knee in their report.
The circumstances leading up to the tragedy paint a heartbreaking picture. A family friend who had been helping Oriti move out of the apartment that afternoon said he believed the couple’s relationship was cordial and that he had no knowledge of any prior violence between them.
After leaving together, Oriti told her friend she was returning to the apartment to “make sure she had everything and say goodbye to Maurice.” When she stopped answering his calls shortly afterward, the friend grew concerned. He was still waiting outside when police cruisers arrived with sirens blaring.
Vanderhall was scheduled to appear in Henderson Justice Court on Thursday but remained hospitalized at the time. He is now due in court on December 9.
The Henderson Police Department is urging anyone affected by domestic violence to seek help through its Victim/Witness Advocate Program, which offers support to crime victims, witnesses, and their families. Additional assistance is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233). In emergencies, residents are advised to call 911.
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