Student Killed in Teacher's Love Triangle

An 18-year-old Arizona high school student caught with his 48-year-old math teacher in her bedroom was stabbed to death by her boyfriend, who is himself a former student of hers, police said yesterday. Sixto Balbuena, 20, a Navy sailor on leave, was arrested on a murder charge after police found him covered in blood.

Police said Balbuena told them he stabbed Samuel Valdivia with a kitchen knife because he "wanted to teach the victim a lesson." The teacher, Tamara Hofmann, is being investigated for potential misconduct relative to her involvement with Valdivia, police said. Records show Hofmann was suspected of having a sexual relationship with a then-17-year-old Balbuena in 2006 but police closed the case after they both denied it.
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