Woman dead after a Columbus stabbing, authorities say. Suspect identified
A woman is dead after a stabbing in the 3000 block of Williams Road and a suspect has been arrested, according to the Columbus Police Department.
Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan identified the victim as 22-year-old Abigail Cadoura. She was pronounced dead at 8:17 p.m. Monday.
Police say officers were working a hit-and-run crash at Summit Pointe Apartments when they were notified Cadoura — who lived in a nearby unit — was not answering calls and had missed family plans. Officers conducted a welfare check and found Cadoura dead inside her apartment with multiple stab wounds, according to police.
Police say they learned Cadoura drove a white SUV, which was located traveling north on Interstate 85. The missing vehicle was located in Banks County and officers tried to pull the car over, according to the news release.
The attempted traffic stop led to a pursuit that ended in a crash, police say. The driver has been identified as Luke Mercardante, 26, who was arrested and charged with murder and vehicle theft, according to police.
Police say investigators confirmed Mercardante and Cadoura had been in an on-and-off relationship.
CPD’s Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation, according to a post on the department’s X page.
This story was originally published April 29, 2025 at 10:10 AM.