Woman, 18, faces potential life sentence for attempted murder in East Palo Alto

Figueroa and her 17-year-old girlfriend allegedly plotted to kill Figueroa’s 20-year-old co-worker on March 17 for reasons that remain unclear, Wagstaffe said, adding the two worked at the Boys and Girls Club in East Palo Alto. The three girls were friends and jealousy may be a factor in the attempted murder, Wagstaffe said, adding prosecutors are currently unaware of a specific event or argument that might’ve sparked the incident. 

Figueroa and her girlfriend, who was sent to juvenile hall, allegedly set up a meeting with the victim to hang out at her house, according to the District Attorney’s Office. While Figueroa’s girlfriend waited in the car, serving as the lookout, Figueroa walked over to the victim’s car and without warning stabbed her three times in the neck, Wagstaffe said. Figueroa then drove away in her car with her girlfriend. 

The victim then called 911 and was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life threatening, and was released that night, Wagstaffe said. 

Figueroa was caught the next day near the Mexican border and was brought back to San Mateo County Jail. Because detectives at the time were unaware that the attempted murder was allegedly premeditated, Figueroa was only charged with assault with a deadly weapon and was in custody on just $60,000 bail, which she posted and was released. 

After gathering more information, Figueroa at her subsequent court appearance was recharged and placed back in custody, where she remains, on $750,000 bail.