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Capital Murder Charges Filed Against Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting, Stabbing Stepdaughter

LONG BEACH (AP) — Prosecutors say they've filed capital murder charges against a man accused of fatally stabbing his 9-year-old stepdaughter because he was afraid she'd report ongoing sexual abuse.

District attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said 31-year-old Jacinto Zuniga Trujillo is also accused of five counts of sexual assault against the child, according to charges filed Tuesday.

Zuniga allegedly sexually assaulted the child from November until Saturday, the day of the stabbing.

Zuniga was found by a passer-by in the parking lot of Los Altos Methodist Church, suffering from what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds. Authorities believe he was trying to commit suicide after murdering the girl.

He was being held without bail.

» RELATED: Girl, 9, Dead In Long Beach After She's Allegedly Killed By Parent

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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