Marine Accused of Killing Pregnant Ex-Girlfriend

A Marine will be arraigned Wednesday on charges of killing his former girlfriend and her unborn child, according to a release from the Orange County District Attorney's office.

Authorities say Ahmad Rashad Siddiqi, 23, of Alexandria, Va., flew to Orange County shortly before Dec. 19, convincing his former girlfriend, Soraya Faroqi, 23, to meet up in her friend's Westminster apartment to discuss their relationship.

An interpreter for the Department of Defense, Faroqi had returned to Orange County Dec. 13. She was in her first trimester of pregnancy. Siddiqi, himself, had recently served several months in Afghanistan before returning to his Virginia home.

"The defendant is accused of arguing with Faroqi about their relationship and chasing her from the apartment with a knife," the district attorney's release states. "He is accused of tackling her behind bushes in a carport and repeatedly stabbing Faroqi as her friend screamed for him to stop. The defendant is accused of murdering Faroqi and her unborn baby."

Witnesses called 911 and the Westminster Police Department arrested the defendant at the scene.

DA spokeswoman Farrah Emami said it was unclear whether Siddiqi had been stationed at Camp Pendleton. Quantico Marine Base is just south of Siddiqi's hometown of Alexandria, Va., however.

Siddiqi will be charged with two felony counts of special circumstances murder with sentencing enhancements for killing multiple victims, lying in wait, and the  use of a deadly weapon.

If convicted, Siddiqi faces a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The special circumstances make the defendant eligible for the death penalty. Siddiqi is being held without bail and is scheduled for a arraignment at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Sonia Balleste of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.