Alleged Queens Father Charged with Stabbing Family
A Queens father, accused of stabbing his wife and two-year-old daughter with a kitchen knife, faced charges on Monday. Ernesto Cruz, 54, has been charged with two counts of murder and criminal possession of a weapon following the tragic incident that occurred on Saturday evening in Ridgewood.
According to police, Cruz was video chatting with his nephew when he allegedly attacked his 41-year-old wife, Ana Piratagi Moposita, stabbing her 18 times.
The nephew, witnessing the horrifying scene, immediately called 911. Officers arrived to find that Cruz himself had also sustained an injury, as he had reportedly stabbed himself in the chest.
Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital but unfortunately succumbed to their injuries. Cruz, who is also hospitalized, is said to be in stable condition, though it’s unclear if he will be arrested while receiving treatment.
A neighbor, who spoke about the family, mentioned that Cruz had a history of mental abuse toward Piratagi Moposita and had made threats against her life. “He told her many times, ‘One day, I’ll kill you.’ That shows he had intent,” the neighbor recounted.
However, police stated that there were no documented instances of domestic violence reported to the NYPD between the couple.
Interestingly, Cruz had a minor legal issue in December 2022 related to a traffic subpoena, but details about that incident are not clear.
The same neighbor shared that Cruz’s two sons, who lived separately, were desperately trying to contact their mother on the day of the tragedy. “You can’t imagine their reaction. They were calling her all day, only to find out something so horrific had happened. It was total shock,” the neighbor explained.
Other neighbors characterized Cruz and Piratagi Moposita as a seemingly happy couple, often seen together pushing their children in a stroller or out shopping. “They looked like a normal family, so it’s really shocking,” one neighbor remarked. “No one had any idea something like this could happen.”
