Tacoma man, 81, charged in stabbing death of daughter

An 81-year-old Tacoma man was charged with second-degree murder Monday in the fatal stabbing of his daughter.

Milton Fabre pleaded not guilty in the Dec. 31 death of Tamara Fabre, 49, and was ordered jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Family members and police said Tamara Fabre moved back to the area from Texas in April to help care for her mother, who died in October from cancer.

Milton Fabre told detectives his daughter was helpful unless she was drinking.

The day she died, Tamara Fabre was cooking in preparation for a big meal to be held the next day at the home of her brother, who lived across the street in the 7000 block of Fawcett Avenue.

Charging papers give this account:

Tamara and Milton Fabre quarreled about 3:30 p.m. and she called him names and told him “everybody hates him and that she wished he was dead,” records show.

Milton Fabre was upset and locked his daughter out of the house at one point.

About 7:30 p.m., Tamara Fabre allegedly yelled at her father and he told her to leave. The argument turned into a physical struggle on the kitchen floor, and Milton Fabre reached up at one point and grabbed a carving knife.

Milton Fabre told a family member his daughter hit him so he “hit her with a knife,” documents show.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner said Tamara Fabre died from a cut to her throat and suffered 10 stab wounds to her shoulders, arm and back.

After the stabbing, Milton Fabre went to his son’s house across the street and asked him to call 911. He waited outside his home with his grandson and his grandson’s girlfriend until police arrived.

Milton Fabre’s son later told police he’d heard his father and sister arguing several times and believed Tamara Fabre recently kicked their father during a fight.

At Milton Fabre’s arraignment Monday, Court Commissioner Meagan Foley ordered him not to have contact with his son, grandson and grandson’s girlfriend.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Tacoma man, 81, charged in stabbing death of daughter."