Margaret Machiko Yamaguchi, 61

Margaret Machiko Yamaguchi, a 61-year-old Asian woman, was fatally stabbed Monday Sept. 7, in the 800 block of West San Bernardino Road in Covina, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Covina police officers responded about 5 a.m. to a call about a woman not breathing in an assisted-living facility. When officers arrived, Yamaguchi was on the floor of her room, suffering from several stab wounds. Paramedics pronounced her dead at 5:41 a.m. at the scene. 

The subsequent investigation revealed that Athina Sumi Rivera, Yamaguchi’s 43-year-old daughter, was spending the night in her mother’s room. Rivera woke up in the middle of the night and allegedly stabbed her mother.

An autopsy report showed that Yamaguchi was stabbed 30 times.

Rivera was arrested the day of the crime and later charged with one count of first-degree murder, according to prosecutors.

Rivera is scheduled to be in court Feb. 4 for an arraignment hearing. She faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @jeromercampbell and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.