Mother stabbed to death in northwest Houston apartment

HOUSTON – A mother of two was stabbed to death in her northwest Houston apartment, and investigators said her young children witnessed the killing.

Cecelia Sanders' body was found in the Yale Village apartments at 5637 Yale at West Hamilton shortly after 12 a.m. Monday.

Authorities said the victim's mother was the one who found her covered in blood. Next to Sanders' body was her crying 8-month-old baby girl. Sanders' 3-year-old daughter was hiding in a closet. Detectives said the children witnessed their mother's death.

Investigators searched for Sanders' boyfriend, Ronald Deshaun, who is also the father of Sanders' oldest child. He was found early Monday and brought in for questioning.

"We're not calling him a suspect at this point," said W. Meller, a Houston Police Department homicide detective.

Sanders' sister, Chanteral Bishop, said that the fact her sister is gone has not really set in.

"I can't believe this is happening. I feel like I'm dreaming," Bishop said.

The 3-year-old had a bruise on her head. She and the baby were checked out at a hospital. Officials said afterwards, the children would be placed in the custody of one of their grandparents.