Sarasota man charged with murder in stabbing of ex-girlfriend’s mother

A Sarasota man has been arrested and is facing murder charges after detectives say he stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s mother to death, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

Bernis Boykins, 42, also stabbed his ex-girlfriend. She remains in critical condition at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, according to a news release Saturday morning.

Boykins was arrested Friday night and charged with murder and attempted murder. He is being held without bond at the Sarasota County jail.

The sheriff’s office had initially reported Friday that a suspect had been transported to the hospital as well to be treated for unknown injuries.

At 1:33 p.m. Friday, deputies responded to the 2300 block of 20th Street in Sarasota to reports of a stabbing. They arrived and found Boykins who reportedly admitted to stabbing both women inside the home.

Boykin's 20-year-old ex-girlfriend and her mother, Tonya Simpson, 54, were found inside the home when deputies entered, the release states. Simpson was declared dead at the home and her daughter was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital to be treated for her injuries.

The investigation remains on-going.

This story was originally published May 28, 2016 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Sarasota man charged with murder in stabbing of ex-girlfriend’s mother."