A Long Island man pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder Monday after authorities said he stabbed his ex-girlfriend more than 30 times in front of their 2-year-old son.
Jose William Funes-Zabala, 43, of Roosevelt, stands accused of killing Brenda Guadalupe Alfaro-Alcantara, 29, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Alfaro-Alcantara’s apartment in Hempstead.
“The horrifying scene, and the child smeared with his mother’s blood, were discovered after repeated attempts by family to contact the victim were unsuccessful,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring justice for Brenda and her loved ones as we prosecute this case.”
Funes-Zabala went to Alfaro-Alcantara’s apartment one day after a protection order expired that had barred him from contacting her, according to authorities.
At the scene, he learned that Alfaro-Alcantara had started seeing someone else. He allegedly became enraged, grabbed a knife and stabbed her numerous times, killing her, cops said.
Investigators estimated Funes-Zabala stabbed Alfaro-Alcantara around 35 times. The 2-year-old boy was not harmed in the attack.
Funes-Zabala walked out of the apartment with blood on his face, police said. He was arrested the following day.
A Nassau County grand jury indicted him on charges of second-degree murder, child endangerment and weapons possession. He pleaded not guilty to all three counts, Newsday reported.