A Long Island husband has admitted to stabbing his wife to death outside their home after her screams attracted the attention of their teenage son, who had come home and witnessed the horrific murder.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Ryszard Murawski, 44, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for attacking Wioletta Murawski with a large serrated knife in the backyard of her Lindenhurst home on Sept. 17.
The couple's 15-year-old son, who was at a friend's house, heard his mother's screams for help, ran to the backyard and saw the horrifying scene of his father stabbing his mother just before 8:30pm on January 3, 2024.
The brave teenager jumped on his father, allowing Violetta Murawski to escape from her husband.
“With her son at her side, she stumbled across the road and collapsed,” the district attorney said.
A trail of “a significant amount of blood” led from the scene of the attack to across the street where she collapsed.
The “distraught” boy called 911 and asked police for help, “desperately trying to save his mother's life,” the report said.
Wioleta Murawski, 38, was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, where she was pronounced dead.
Ryszard Murawski fled the scene in a black GMC pickup truck as his heartbroken son called 911.
Police found Murawski, who was pursued by multiple officers for more than seven miles before losing control and crashing into a building near New York Avenue and West Hoffman Avenue in Lindenhurst.
The brutal attack was captured on the family's home surveillance system.
Violetta Murawski is remembered as a “sociable person who gave her all.”
“She was a wonderful mother, sister, friend and colleague who touched so many lives. She leaves behind two sons,” family friend Magdalena Kowalewska said. He said on GoFundMe.
“Wioleta dedicated her life to raising her sons and giving them a bright future. She was an outgoing person who wanted the best for them. She was a great friend who always helped without asking for anything in return.”
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney called the murder a tragic case of domestic violence.
“This is a tragic case of domestic violence that ended with the senseless death of Violetta Murawski and horrific trauma to a child. This defendant will now have to pay the price for his actions in prison,” Tierney said. “Domestic violence is never the answer. We urge anyone in an abusive relationship to seek help through our partner agencies linked below, and always call 911 in case of an emergency.”
At the time of his arrest, Murawski was charged with one felony count of criminal contempt for allegedly stabbing his wife to death and violating a protection order she had issued a week earlier, according to the district attorney's office.
He is expected to receive a sentence ranging from 22 years to life in prison.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2024.
