Man held in Menlo Park woman's fatal stabbing

(KTVU) Menlo Park - A suspect has been arrested in the stabbing death of a Menlo Park woman inside her home.

Francis Wolke, 26, was booked at San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of murder. The victim has not been officially identified

Broken pieces of yellow police tape were still visible Thursday near the victim's home on the 900 block of Valparaiso Avenue, in a neighborhood of multi-million-dollar homes.

The police activity has shattered many residents' sense of security.

"I always think this place is safe, you know?" said Lulu Roberts, who lives in nearby Atherton as she paused near the home with a baby in a stroller. "I think this is the safest neighborhood you can find in the Bay Area. I would never think you have to lock the door."

Menlo Park police were called to the home just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. A man called 911 in hysterics, saying a woman had been killed.

Officers arrived and found the victim unresponsive. Police say she was stabbed with a sharp object other than a knife.

They found a second man - Wolke - still at the home and arrested him on suspicion of murder.

"Our communities are deeply sorrowed by this loss and to have a tragedy such as a murder is uncomfortable," said Menlo Park Vice Mayor Cecilia Taylor. 

"I believe that the concern no matter what the neighborhood is there, and it's just tragic for someone to die young, and tragic, especially for them to be murdered," Taylor said

Police have not discussed a motive. Investigators are trying to confirm the relationship between the victim and the suspect, who was wanted in Santa Clara County for prowling and drug possession.

KTVU crime reporter Henry Lee spoke by phone to the suspect's mother. She said she was unaware her son had been arrested and said she didn't recognize the name of the victim.

The violence happened right across the street from the private Menlo School. Many students heard about what happened through texts and social media.

"We were all freaking out kind of, because on the text, people were like Facetiming each other and calling each other to tell them that something had possibly happened, and everyone was like 'lock your doors and stay safe,' " said student Crystal Bai.

Another student, Melina Diner said, "You never think that it's actually going to be close to you."