Full Notification

HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – October 22^nd, 2026 – Suspect stabs one and then carjacks a second victim at knifepoint.  
 
On October 17, 2026, at approximately 9:46 a.m., Hollister Police Department officers responded to the 1100 block of San Benito Street after receiving a report of a stabbing. Before officers arrived, the victim, later identified as the suspect's domestic partner, left the scene and he called 9-1-1.
Officers found the victim at a local carwash, where he had called 9-1-1. He had sustained two stab wounds to his chest and neck. A second victim, later identified as the suspect's sister, was also at the carwash and reported being carjacked at knifepoint. Officers later identified the suspect as Vanessa Garcia, 34, of Hollister. After stabbing her partner and carjacking her sister's vehicle, Vanessa fled the area armed with two knives.
Officers immediately obtained the vehicle’s license plate number. With assistance from the Flock vehicle-recognition system, they learned the vehicle was last seen leaving the city. Given the severity of the crime and concerns for officer safety, they issued a Be-On-The-Lookout (BOLO) alert to nearby law enforcement agencies.
Minutes later, Hollister PD received an update from NetCom that a vehicle matching the description had been reported driving recklessly eastbound on Highway 152 near Casa de Fruta. Shortly after, a second update reported that the suspect vehicle collided head-on with another vehicle, causing one vehicle to overturn.
Officers later learned that Vanessa got out of the crashed vehicle and carjacked another motorist at knifepoint. She then fled westbound on Highway 152 toward Gilroy. With assistance from the Flock system, the Gilroy Police Department located the suspect vehicle as it entered the department's jurisdiction.
A pursuit followed involving the Gilroy Police Department, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Officers used pursuit tactics, including spike strips, to stop the vehicle safely but they were unsuccessful. The suspect entered San Jose, where officers eventually lost visual contact. Officers later determined that Vanessa abandoned the vehicle after it became disabled and attempted to carjack additional motorists at knifepoint.
San Jose Police Department officers located Vanessa, who was still armed with a knife. Vanessa then inflicted severe self-harm. Officers immediately provided medical aid, and she was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, but she died from her self-inflicted injuries. 
It should be noted the suspect in this case was the same person who was mentioned on a previous press release (26-036) where the knife wielding woman had officers in Hollister in hours long standoff on September 26, 2026.  On that day she was eventually detained and transported for treatment. 
The Hollister Police Department thank the Gilroy Police Department, San Jose Police Department, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, San Benito County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, and NetCom Dispatch for their assistance, cooperation, and immediate response during this incident.
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Prepared by: A. Melgoza, Sergeant                                                                                           
Approved by: C. Reynoso, Chief of Police
 
 
 Case # 26-2372