Los Angeles: Yesterday in the Westchester Area, a man broke into a former girlfriend's home and stabbed her to death.

On Wednesday, January 18, 2006, at about 10:10 a.m., Pacific Area patrol officers responded to a radio call of a Burglary Suspect at 7507 Cowan Avenue. The victim was still on the phone with the 911 operator when the suspect broke into her house.

Officers arrived within four minutes, only to find the victim, Mary K. Dasaro, 23 years of age, already dead.

The suspect, 24 year-old, Darren Nestor Nelson fled in his vehicle, a silver Honda, and drove to 64th Avenue and Pacific Avenue, near the Playa Del Rey Lagoon, where he attempted to kill himself by setting fire to his car. The suspect was taken into custody and booked for murder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pacific Homicide Unit at 310-202-4506. On weekends and during off-hours call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).