The arraignment for the man accused of fatally stabbing a social worker at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital last week has been delayed because he was unable to appear in court Tuesday.
Wilfredo Tortolero Arriechi, 34, is being held in the pyschiatric unit of the same hospital where he allegedly stabbed a social worker to death Thursday.
“He is currently hospitalized due to his mental status,” said Deputy Public Defender Sylvia Nguyen in an interview.
On Thursday, Tortolero Arriechi allegedly went to the hospital with a concealed knife to speak to a doctor, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. He appeared calm and spoke to a social worker before being advised to leave.
Tortolero Arriechi and the 51-year-old social worker then walked to an elevator together, where Tortolero Arriechi allegedly grabbed the victim and stabbed him numerous times, prosecutors said.
The victim was identified by his union as Alberto Rangel. The District Attorney’s Office elevated the charges to include one count of murder after Rangel died from his injuries Saturday.
Inside the courtroom where Tortolero Arriechi was scheduled to appear at the Hall of Justice, Judge Harry Dorfman described the gravity of the case.
“Given the circumstances brought to my attention so far, it’s a very serious homicide case,” he said.
Nguyen requested that the arraignment be rescheduled to Dec. 16.
“Because he is not able to come to court today, very little can take place today,” Dorfman said.
Dorfman allowed the request with the exception to move it to an earlier date in case Tortolero Arriechi is discharged from the hospital before then. Dorfman will not set a bail amount for Tortolero Arriechi.
