Pennsylvania girl Kayla VanWert stabbed to death after Facebook fight with best friend

January 2024 ยท 3 minute read
Kayla VanWert, 18, was fatally stabbed Sunday

Kayla VanWert, 18, was fatally stabbed Sunday

A teenage mother was stabbed to death in Pennsylvania - allegedly by a former best friend who became a rival for the attention of her child's father. 

Kayla VanWert, 18, died after she was stabbed in the neck and chest during a fight Sunday, police said. 

Another young girl, 16-year-old Cathleen Boyer, was charged as an adult with crimes including aggravated assault. 

She will likely be charged with homicide, pending investigation, the Pocono Record reported. 

A woman who hosted VanWert in her home said the victim and Boyer 'used to be best friends' before they began fighting via Facebook Messenger over Jorge DeJesus, 19, who is the father of VanWert's 1-year-old daughter.

'It all went sour over a guy,' Roxanne Draper told the Record. 

She said the two met up for a fist fight, but that Boyer allegedly brought a knife. 

Cathleen Boyer, 16, was charged as an adult with aggravated assault and other crimes. She will likely face murder charges. Jorge DeJesus, 19, was charged with simple assault for another incident the same day

Cathleen Boyer, 16, left, was charged as an adult with aggravated assault and other crimes. She will likely face murder charges. Jorge DeJesus, 19, right, was charged with simple assault for another incident the same day

VanWert and DeJesus are pictured with their 1-year-old daughter. Police said DeJesus allegedly beat VanWert only hours before she was stabbed to death, allegedly at the hands of her former best friend 

VanWert and DeJesus are pictured with their 1-year-old daughter. Police said DeJesus allegedly beat VanWert only hours before she was stabbed to death, allegedly at the hands of her former best friend 

DeJesus was previously accused of firing a gun inside VanWert's mother's house He allegedly beat VanWert in a separate fight only hours before she was killed Sunday

DeJesus was previously accused of firing a gun inside VanWert's mother's house. He allegedly beat VanWert in a separate fight only hours before she was killed Sunday 

After she was stabbed, VanWert was transported to the Regional Hospital of Scranton where she was pronounced dead at 10pm. 

Only hours before the deadly fight, DeJesus was arrested and charged with simple assault for allegedly beating VanWert and dragging her by the hair. 

According to the Scranton Times-Tribune, VanWert was holding the couple's daughter in her arms when the alleged assault by DeJesus occurred. 

DeJesus told police he threw VanWert to the ground in self-defense after she punched him, the newspaper reported. 

Before she was arrested, police said Boyer wrote in a Facebook post: 'I'm wrong, I'll admit it and I'm gonna turn myself in ... but it is what it is at the end of the day, got to face the consequences ... no remorse' Before she was arrested, police said Boyer wrote in a Facebook post: 'I'm wrong, I'll admit it and I'm gonna turn myself in ... but it is what it is at the end of the day, got to face the consequences ... no remorse'

Before she was arrested, police said Boyer wrote in a Facebook post: 'I'm wrong, I'll admit it and I'm gonna turn myself in ... but it is what it is at the end of the day, got to face the consequences ... no remorse'

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He was previously arrested for allegedly firing a handgun inside VanWert's mother's home, the Times-Tribune reported in March

The young couple's daughter is now with DeJesus' family, VanWert's mother told the Record.

Before she was arrested, police said Boyer wrote in a Facebook post:

'I'm wrong, I'll admit it and I'm gonna turn myself in ... but it is what it is at the end of the day, got to face the consequences ... no remorse.'

VanWert was described by her mother as a 'wonderful, caring person' and a 'great mother' with a 'great heart.'

An online fundraising page was set up to raise money for her funeral costs.

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