Bathroom Argument May Have Led To Fatal Stabbing

A fight over the use of a bathroom allegedly led to the stabbing death of an Essex woman last week.

John Falkenstein Jr. admitted to stabbing Janet Palasik at least five times before cleaning the scene, leaving her body in the kitchen and putting his clothes in the washing machine then going to bed, according to charging documents filed in District Court in Towson.

Falkenstein, 56, was arrested on Nov. 5 after police found the body of Palasik in his home in the 700 block of Myrth Avenue. Police found the body of the 48-year-old Palasik covered by blankets on a mattress in the kitchen.

Falkenstein is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center in Towson. According to charging documents, Falkenstein was taken from the scene to an interview room in Towson, where he waived his Miranda rights.

Palasik arrived at Falkenstein's home around 7 p.m. on the night she died. She spoke to Falkenstein, her boyfriend of about two years, before going to get beer from her car. Falkenstein then went to use the bathroom, he told police.

Palasik returned a short time later and, angry that her boyfriend was in the bathroom for a long period of time, knocked on the door. He finished, unlocked the door, then Palasik came in. The two got into a fight, according to Falkenstein's statement.

Falkenstein pulled out a five-inch blade from his pants and "may have stabbed her five times." Palasik fell into the shower, where she died, according to charging documents.

Falkenstein put her body on the mattress in the kitchen, cleaned the bathroom, put the towels and his clothes in the washing machine, then went to sleep, he told police.

Seventeen hours later, police, alerted by Palasik's daughter, came to check on her, and that is when they found Palasik's body.

A preliminary hearing in the case was waived. No other hearing dates have yet been set.