WEST HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A 27-year-old man was arraigned this week for the murder of his estranged mother-in-law as she left a Long Island restaurant last month, the Nassau County D.A. announced Thursday.
Erick Gonzalez was arraigned Tuesday on charges of murder, attempted murder, attempted assault, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.
He is due back in court on Nov. 4. If convicted, Gonzalez faces up to 50 years to life in prison.
On Sept. 28, 51-year-old Ana Ruth Espinoza and her husband, along with other family members, were celebrating Espinoza's adult daughter's birthday at the La Candela II restaurant in West Hempstead, prosecutors said.
Gonzalez, Espinoza's daughter's estranged husband, was not invited to the celebration.
Just after midnight on Sept. 29, the partygoers were leaving the restaurant and heading for their vehicles when Gonzalez approached Espinoza in the parking lot, allegedly stabbing her seven times in the torso.
When her husband tried to intervene, Gonzalez allegedly stabbed him in his hand.
Espinoza's adult son also tried to help his mother, and Gonzalez allegedly pointed an imitation pistol at the man and threatened him not to follow him.
Gonzalez then fled the scene.
The alleged attack took place in the presence of Gonzalez's 2-year-old son.
Espinoza and her husband were both taken to Winthrop Hospital for treatment. Espinoza suffered hemorrhagic shock from being stabbed in the neck and was later pronounced dead.
Gonzalez allegedly fled the state after the stabbing and was arrested on Sept. 29, in Linden, New Jersey, by local authorities. He was extradited to Nassau County on Oct. 22.
A knife was recovered from the restaurant's parking lot and an imitation pistol was recovered from Gonzalez's car trunk, according to prosecutors.
"Ana Ruth Espinoza was out with family celebrating her daughter's birthday at a West Hempstead restaurant and saying her goodbyes when she was allegedly ambushed by Erick Gonzalez, her daughter's estranged husband, and ruthlessly stabbed seven times," D.A. Anne Donnelly said. "Ana's husband tried to stop the defendant's alleged rampage but was slashed in the hand when he intervened. Tragically, Ana's injuries were too severe, and she died later that morning at the hospital. Our thoughts are with her family and friends as they continue to mourn her violent and senseless death."
