CA Woman Karen Cordova who stabbed burglars now faces murder charges

A Colorado woman who stabbed two burglars at her home - killing one - is now facing murder charges.

Karen Elaine Cordova, 48, of Erie, Colo., was arrested on Monday, two days after cops said she stabbed the men with a five-inch blade after they broke into her home, where she grows medical marijuana.

Kyle Dust, 31, died at the scene, while Stephen Erickson, 34, fled to a friend's house before being hospitalized. He was reported in critical condition with wounds to his stomach and liver.

Cordova was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder. She is scheduled to be charged Thursday.

Experts say she may be able to use Colorado's "Make My Day" law, which allows people to defend themselves against intruders.

"The law allows deadly force in your home or business, if there is a reasonable belief that the person breaking into the house has already committed a crime or if a crime will be committed," University of Colorado Law professor Ann England told the Greely Tribune.

Erikson and a woman had already robbed Cordova once either late Friday or early Saturday, and he was retuing with Dust to hit her a second time when she confronted them, the Longmont Times-Call reported.

Neighbors said Erikson knew Cordova grew pot - he had allegedly cased her place weeks earlier when she hired him to do some duct work.

Cops arrested Cordova after they found Dust's body lying on the edge of her property while they were investigating Erikson's stabbing.

Cordova reportedly copped to knifing the thugs after they attacked her.

"I'm not going to lie," she told police. "What would you do if someone broke into your house at 2:30 in the moing? I'm a single woman."

But later, she freaked when she found out that Dust was dead.

"Oh my God. I didn't know that I killed him. They were coming for me. They were coming for me," she said.

She was being held at Weld County Jail, and her bail was set at $400,000.