Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced today the indictment of GERALDO BALBUENA, 68, for the fatal stabbing of his wife Leonilda Nuez Balbuena, 80. BALBUENA is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony.[1]
“Leonilda Nuez Balbuena’s life ended in a shocking and brutal crime. No family should ever have to experience the pain caused by this type of tragedy, and we are committed to ensuring accountability,” said District Attorney Bragg.
According to the indictment and statements made on the record in court, at around 10 p.m. on the evening of June 10, 2022, BALBUENA called his niece and said he had done “something bad” and was going to kill himself. NYPD officers responded to a 911 call minutes later and arrived at the apartment BALBUENA shared with his now-deceased wife and found it locked.
After observing BALBUENA holding a large wood-handled knife from the fire escape, police entered the apartment through an open window. There, they found Leonilda Nuez Balbuena lying unresponsive on the bedroom floor.
She was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead due to multiple stab wounds to her chest and abdomen after CPR was attempted to revive her.
Assistant D.A.s Heather Pearson and Shanni Davidowitz are handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Joyce Smith (Chief of the Special Victims Division), Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division), Jeffrey Levinson (Chief of Trial Bureau 80) and Maxine Rosenthal (Deputy Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 80). Assistant District Attorney Christopher Rivet and Trial Preparation Assistant Casey Hunter assisted with the prosecution of the case. Legal Intern Willy Ferreiras and Trial Preparation Assistant Bryn Clark also assisted. The Witness Aid Services Unit also provided valuable assistance, including Victims Services Counselor Natalie Brenes Ramirez and Co-Director Beverly Gilchrist.
D.A. Bragg thanked Detective William Garcia and the 30th Precinct Detective Squad and the NYPD Manhattan North Homicide Squad.
Defendant Information:
GERALDO BALBUENA
New York, New York
Charged:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.