Frankford man charged
in fatal stabbing

A Frankford man stabbed his live-in girlfriend to death with a kitchen knife inside their apartment on Feb. 20, police said.
Officers from the 15th Police District went to the 4800 block of Frankford Ave. just before 8 p.m. in response to a report of a domestic disturbance, said Philadelphia Police Capt. Michael Costello, commander of the homicide division.
They found Michelle Hicks, 36, lying outside the building with numerous stab wounds of the torso. Medics took her to Frankford Hospital-Frankford, where she was pronounced dead about a half-hour later.
Investigators are unsure what sparked the altercation, Costello said, but they arrested Hicks’ boyfriend, Richard Smith, 26, at the scene. He is charged with murder.
Detectives believe the attack occurred inside the premises before the victim stumbled outside.
Smith was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 27. ••