BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) — Despite being under police protection, a Baltimore County woman was stabbed to death in her apartment. The suspect is in custody.

And as Gigi Barnett reports, police say the victim was three months pregnant.

Katie Hadel, 33, wasn’t supposed to be at her Baltimore County apartment last week when–according to police–Jeffrey Michael Shifflett broke into her apartment and stabbed Hadel to death.

Investigators say Shifflett was Hadel’s former boyfriend who was threatening to kill her and she was under strict police protection.

“We were extremely concerned for her safety. We suggested that she move to a different location where he did not know to find her. We offered to assist her with that move,” said Elise Armacost, Baltimore County Police.

Hadel said no thanks to the offer and moved in with her mother in Reisterstown. She had reported Shifflett’s death threats to police, which continued to escalate shortly after he was released from a five-year prison sentence for robbery back in December.

Officers were patrolling Hadel’s neighborhood but they say the victim didn’t hide long enough.

“Without telling police, the victim moved back to her apartment in Precinct 4,” Armacost said. “And unfortunately, the suspect knew to find her there.”

Police say they’re not quite sure why Hadel came back to her apartment, even after she had been warned not to. But once they gained entry to her apartment, they found her body. Also inside were two small children–unharmed–and one of them was Hadel’s 3-year-old daughter.

“I heard a lady screaming on the other side, the kids didn’t deserve that. It’s sad,” said neighbor Kim Boyd. “Maryland’s laws…something need to be done.”

Police say Hadel was married and expecting another child. Her husband was away during the murder and is not considered a suspect. The actual suspect is in custody.