‘I recognized my guilt’

Teen Admits Guilt in Queens Stabbing Case

An 18-year-old has confessed to police that he felt “guilty” for slashing a Queens mother as she was heading to work, according to prosecutors. This revelation came after detectives presented him with surveillance footage of the attack.

Luis Emmanuel Valencia Ponce allegedly made this unexpected admission to investigators on Monday morning. This occurred following the viewing of video that showed Lisette Ramares being attacked at a bus stop in East Elmhurst, as noted by Assistant District Attorney Isabel Dudek during Ponce’s arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on Thursday.

Ponce reportedly said to detectives, “To be honest, I don’t remember running towards her, but I do remember chasing her.”

When asked if he recalled stabbing Ramares without provocation, he responded, “When I saw the video and saw what happened, I knew I was guilty.”

Just five hours after the stabbing incident, Ponce was apprehended by Port Authority police at JFK Airport while allegedly trying to flee the country. It seems he didn’t possess a boarding pass or ticket and was attempting to catch a flight to Peru.

The detective queried Ponce, “You’re saying you’re guilty of what you did, right? Do you think that’s why you tried to walk away from JFK, were you trying to get away from what you did?”

To this, Ponce answered, “Yes, sir.”

During the proceedings, Ponce displayed a subdued demeanor, occasionally glancing at his father and defense attorney as the details of the incident were relayed. He was held without bail on a charge of attempted murder, and his father opted not to comment.

Ramares, a 29-year-old mother of three, was stabbed multiple times, which resulted in serious injuries including a punctured lung, after Ponce approached her from behind at the bus stop. Dudek explained, “The complainant was walking to the bus stop… as she was about to cross the street… someone came up behind her and stabbed her repeatedly in the back.”

Following the attack, Ramares has been left extremely frightened and is now fearful of Ponce, according to the prosecutor.

As of Thursday, Ramares remained hospitalized. Meanwhile, Ponce stated from his hospital bed that he “didn’t say anything” after the incident, which he described as random.

Ponce’s attorney, Michelle Minkin, argued that her client, who has no previous arrests, should be released for medical care. She mentioned that he had received psychiatric treatment shortly after the allegations were made.

Minkin contended that Ponce would benefit from ongoing treatment and support services, emphasizing that his father would ensure he keeps his commitments.