A soldier from Fort Meade in Maryland has been charged with criminal homicide after authorities say he stabbed his 14-year-old girlfriend 's mother to death early on Sunday in Pennsylvania . Caleb Barnes , 20 , is suspected of repeatedly stabbing Cheryl Silvonek in the neck as she tried to fight him off while they were in a car parked in the driveway in front of her Upper Macungie home . It is believed the slaying happened after Silvonek told Barnes and the daughter she disapproved of their relationship . Scroll down for video . Caleb Barnes , 20 , is suspected of killing the mother of his 14-year-old girlfriend by stabbing her in the neck . Cheryl Silvonek , 54 , tried to fight him off while they were in a car at her home in Upper Macungie , Pennsylvania . When police arrived at the home ( pictured ) early on Sunday , they found Barnes and the girl in a bedroom . After Silvonek was dead , Barnes and the daughter , who was in the car during the killing , took the other family vehicle to Wamart and purchased alcohol , bleach and other cleaning products , the Allentown Morning Call reported . They attempted to clean up the car , drove it to nearby South Whitehall and buried Silvonek in a shallow grave . Police found the car submerged in a pond and traced it back to the Silvonek residence . When they arrived , they found Barnes , the girl and Silvonek 's husband David . The girl and Barnes were in an upstairs bedroom and the father was still asleep , CBS 13 reported . Barnes , who has the rank of specialist , was charged with criminal homicide , abuse of a corpse and statutory sexual assault . There is evidence he had sex with the girl shortly before the killing , according to police . She has been charged with abuse of a corpse , tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension . It has not been determined if she will be tried as an adult or a juvenile . Defense attorney John Waldron said : 'She 's just crying for her mom , saying she misses her mom . 'This is a child , who just turned 14 . She 's in shock . ' The girl 's grandparents were in the courtroom during a hearing on Monday . Waldron said : 'Everyone was crying . It was just brutal . ' Barnes and the girl started dating in October . He joined the military in February of 2012 . He graduated advanced training from the Presidio of Monterey , California , and his awards include the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal , Army Times reported . David Silvonek said he was not aware of their relationship . Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said . 'The mother became aware of the relationship and was attempting to have her daughter break it off . 'Obviously we do n't know what occurred in the driveway . There are different versions of the event . ' The girl is in a juvenile facility that will provide her with psychological counseling . A friend of Barnes said he had personal problems , 69 News reported . The unidentified female friend said : 'Anytime he was around me , he was very sweet and polite , but one day he would be the nicest person you 've ever met and the next day he would be dark and gloomy and depressed . 'He wanted to be loved so badly , he was made fun of a lot . '
Police say Caleb Barnes stabbed Silvonek , 54 , to death on Sunday . Killing happened in car in front of Upper Macungie , Pennsylvania , home . Daughter and Barnes allegedly tried to clean up car and buried the body . Barnes was visiting while on weekend leave from Fort Meade in Maryland . He is charged with criminal homicide , abuse of a corpse and sexual assault . Girl faces charges including corpse abuse and hindering apprehension .