A Santa Maria man has been charged in Santa Barbara County Superior Court with murder and four other felony charges in connection with a fatal stabbing last week.

The criminal charges against Eduardo DeGuzman Torres, 63, of Santa Maria, were filed in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 44-year-old Santa Maria woman.

The criminal complaint identified the victim as Mary Grace Torres, also named as the woman allegedly stalked by the defendant.

Just before 11 a.m. May 9, Santa Maria police officers responded to the 1700 block of Rio Vista Lane, off East Newlove Drive, Lt. Paul Van Meel said.

The woman had multiple injuries and was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center where she died, according to authorities.

Torres was located at the scene and taken into custody, police said. 

In addition to murder, the criminal complaint includes four other charges: assault with the personal use of a deadly weapon, stalking, and two counts of obstructing or resisting arrest involving a pair of police officers. 

The defendant also faces several sentencing enhancements including for use of a deadly weapon and causing great bodily injury to a second person.

The criminal complaint identified the weapon as a knife.

The defendant didn’t enter a plea Tuesday during the first hearing for the case, and will return for a further arraignment hearing May 20.

Torres is being held in the Santa Barbara County Jail after Judge John McGregor ordered the defendant be held in custody without bail.