Fresno woman accused of killing another woman over cats and dogs

FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno police have arrested a suspect who they say is responsible for stabbing a woman to death outside her Central Fresno home last week.

Detectives say the confrontation began when the victim expressed her concern about the suspect's pit bull being near her kittens and cats.

Police got tips early on -- and a witness got a partial license plate on the getaway car and then a neighbor's surveillance cameras captured the murder on tape.

Investigators say Laquandra Kinchen lived just down the street from the neighborhood where police say she was walking with her two kids and dog last week.

Chief Jerry Dyer says Kinchen got into an argument with Mary Lara in front of her home. But it quickly turned into an attack. An autopsy showed Lara was stabbed 14 times. Officers say one of their first clues was what the suspect did with her dog.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said, "And the fact that she let the pit bull go, which led them to believe that it would return back home, which the dog did because when Laquandra Kinchen was arrested for the murder the pit bull was in the backyard."

Officers say it doesn't appear Kinchen tried to hide after the murder. She was still in and out of her home as detectives surveilled it.

When she was arrested, neighbors said police also towed away the getaway car from their garage.

Kinchen's husband, Thurman Ligons, was also arrested for assaulting a witness and being an accessory to murder. The couple's two children were also taken away.

"There's a two-year-old boy and a nine year old girl that were living at the residence and present at the time of the stabbing. They have both been placed with cps and we will be conducting an interview with the 9 year old later this week."

Action News interviewed Kinchen two years ago at Walmart. She explained why she preferred supercenters over regular stores.

"A lot more groceries and a lot more better items that they don't have here in the store, better than me going way out to Sanger to buy to purchase the Walmart items I'm looking for," said Kinchen. "I can just go right here."

Investigators say the motive for the attack is simple. A cat lover's passion to protect her animals and the dog she perceived was a threat.

Kinchen is set to be arraigned Wednesday on charges of murder.