Woman's family offers reward in Modesto motel stabbing

By Rosalio Ahumada - rahumada@modbee.com

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The family of a woman who was killed at a Modesto motel Wednesday is offering a $5,000 reward for the capture of the victim's former boyfriend, who is wanted on suspicion of murder, police announced this afternoon.

Modesto police said Erick John Vogel, 38, broke into a room at the Rodeway Inn in central Modesto and "brutally" stabbed his former girlfriend, Waterford resident Katherine Voelker, with whom he had two young children. Voelker, 26, was taken by ambulance to a Modesto hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Detectives assigned to the case and officers on patrol continued to look for Vogel this afternoon.

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Hunt Comes Up Empty

Police said Vogel was last seen leaving the motel parking lot in a dark-colored car. As Vogel fled, he drove through a chain-link fence that borders the motel property.

The getaway car sustained front-end damage, including scrapes and scratches, before turning onto McHenry Avenue.

Police said Vogel is known to drive a faded-black 1991 Nissan Maxima with California license plate 5XDF473. The Maxima has a large dent on the right rear quarter-panel and customized black rims.

Voelker's family is offering the reward for information that leads to Vogel's arrest and conviction, said officer Ivan Valencia, a Modesto police spokesman.

The Modesto police Special Weapons And Tactics team searched Vogel's mother's Waterford house Friday afternoon after investigators received information he might be there. The SWAT team did not find anyone inside the home.

Detectives ask anyone with information about this stabbing or Vogel's whereabouts to call Modesto police at 572-9500 or Crime Stoppers at 521-4636. Tipsters also can e-mail tips through the Crime Stoppers Web site, www.modestopolice. com/CrimeStoppers, or text tips to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.

Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or 578-2394.