A bride-to-be is charged with murder after allegedly stabbing her fiance just hours before the couple's wedding was to start near Whitehall, Pa.

Na Cola Darcel Franklin, 31, and her fiance Billy Rafael Brewster, 36, were planning to tie the knot at 10 a.m. on Saturday, but at some point during the night, Franklin and Brewster began arguing, Steve Luksa, first deputy to the Lehigh County District Attorney, told ABCNews.com. In the heat of the argument, Franklin allegedly stabbed Brewster twice with a kitchen knife, police said. "One of the stab wounds punctured his heart," Luksa said.

When police arrived at the apartment, shortly after 2 a.m., they found Brewster bleeding from chest wounds on the second floor landing. He was transported to the Lehigh County Trauma center and pronounced dead at 3:24 a.m., less than seven hours before the wedding.

Luksa said the couple was not alone in the apartment when the stabbing took place. The couple's children, and extended family members were also present because of the impending nuptials.


A witness, Monique Kali, told authorities that Franklin and Brewster were about to head out to get some food when they began arguing, according to a police affidavit. Franklin began swinging a knife and stabbed Brewster twice in the left side of his chest, puncturing his heart, authorities said.

Kali told police she tackled the bride while Kali’s husband, Nakia Kali — Brewster’s cousin — knocked the weapon out of her hand. The groom staggered out the front door to the second-floor landing, where he was found by police.


Franklin was arrested and charged with one count of criminal homicide, Luksa said.
During her arraignment Saturday afternoon, Franklin told District Judge Donna Butler, "You got to check again," unable to comprehend that Brewster was dead, the Allentown Morning Call reported. She cried, rocked herself back and forth and eventually choked out, "I ... did ... not ... kill ... him ... on ... purpose."

She is being held in Lehigh County Prison without bail, Luksa said.
When Franklin told Bulter via the video conference arraignment that she wanted to go home, Butler responded, "You are not going home any time in the near future."