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Woman convicted of fatal stabbing and robbery in Whittier

A 30-year-old woman was convicted Jan. 21 of fatally stabbing another woman, then breaking into a nearby tire shop, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

A jury a found Vanessa Celaya, a Latina, guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree residential robbery after deliberating for a day, prosecutors said.

Jurors also found agreed on a special allegation that Celaya used a knife in the crime, prosecutors said.

On Sept. 5 about 11 p.m., Celaya walked up to Michelle Young, 31, and initiated an argument in South Whittier, law enforcement previously told The Times.

The argument escalated and Celaya pulled out a knife and began to stab Young. After the stabbing, Celaya broke into a tire shop, threatened a security guard and demanded a change of clothing, prosecutors said.

Authorities took Celaya into custody near the store.

Celaya is scheduled to be sentenced March 8 .

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

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