Garuma, an Ethiopian immigrant, confessed to a friend and again during an interview with Lancaster city police Detectives Robert Deeter and Jimmy Mummau, according to the affidavit.

Police were called after Garuma drove to a friend's house at 442 S. Queen St. about 3 a.m. Friday.

Garuma knocked on the window of the rowhouse, awakening Ermias Amenti, 24. Once inside, Garuma told Amenti he had killed Beyene and was considering suicide, police said.

The men talked for about an hour before Amenti called 911 and reported the killing, police said. Beyene apparently had been dead for about three hours.

Four city police officers arrived at the apartment, where Garuma met them with blood on his pants and shoes.

Garuma told police his girlfriend had "passed" and that he also wanted to "pass," according to the affidavit.

He gave Sgt. Christopher Laser the key to his East King Street apartment and was taken to the police station for questioning.

During the drive, Garuma asked Officer Kevin Frey to kill him, according to the affidavit.

When police entered the apartment shortly before 4:20 a.m., they found Beyene's body beneath sofa cushions and a blanket.

Her throat had been slashed, and dried blood was visible around her head, according to the affidavit.

Police found an 8-inch knife in the kitchen sink and handwritten notes referring to the slaying inside the apartment.

They also found a 6-inch knife handle on the floor of Garuma's car, a white 1997 Neon.

Garuma described the slaying to detectives about 7 a.m. Friday.

He told them he and Beyene had dated for about five months and lived together until she moved recently to East Hempfield Township.

About 12:30 a.m. Friday, Beyene visited Garuma at his East King Street apartment, he told police.

An argument erupted, and Garuma punched Beyene so she would stop talking. Beyene continued talking, and Garuma grabbed a knife from the kitchen before attacking her with it.

Deeter charged Garuma with criminal homicide.

District Judge Maynard "Bud" Hamilton arraigned Garuma at 5:45 p.m. Friday and sent him to Lancaster County Prison without bail.

During the arraignment, Garuma told Hamilton he had won a visa lottery in Ethiopia and moved to the United States in 2002.

He settled in Lancaster city with his wife, Etenesh Huru, also from Ethiopia, and the couple worked at a factory in New Holland.

The couple divorced in October 2004.

In court documents, Huru stated she suffered "indignities" at the hands of Garuma and the three-year marriage was "irretrievably broken."