infoEstranged husband ambushes nurse wife at end of shift, stabs her to death and runs over her body

Estranged husband ambushes nurse wife at end of shift, stabs her to death and runs over her body

Merin Joy was leaving her last day working at Broward Health Coral Springs, bound for a new life in another part of the state, away from her abusive husband.

She got no farther than the parking lot. There, the 26-year-old veteran nurse was stabbed repeatedly and then run over as the attacker drove off.

Bystanders watched in horror as the man drove over her \u00e2\u0080\u009clike she was a speed bump,\u00e2\u0080\u009d one of Joy\u00e2\u0080\u0099s co-workers said. Employees rushed to her aid, and Joy could only cry to them over and over: \u00e2\u0080\u009cI have a baby.\u00e2\u0080\u009d

Before she died, police said, she revealed her attacker\u00e2\u0080\u0099s identity: It was 34-year-old Philip Mathew. It was her husband.

\u00e2\u0080\u009cHe stabbed her multiple times and then after he stabbed her, leaving her body on the ground, he then proceeded to run over the victim showing clear intent,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Assistant State Attorney Eric Linder said.

Police found Matthew at a nearby hotel. After taking him to the hospital for cuts on his arm, investigators say he told them he killed his wife because she was cheating on him.

Matthew is being jailed without bond and undergoing a mental health screening at his attorney\u00e2\u0080\u0099s request.