Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the arrest of Candelario Cordova, 53, of Huntington Station, who allegedly stabbed his friend to death, and then slashed and stabbed his friend’s wife when she tried to intervene.
“This defendant allegedly murdered his friend and was savagely attacking his friend’s wife when she tried to save her husband’s life,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our thoughts are with the Cisneros family as we prosecute this defendant for this horrendous crime.”
According to the investigation, on February 16, 2023, the wife of Roque Cisneros, 58, looked out of the front window of her Huntington Station home and saw her husband sitting in the front passenger seat of an SUV. Cordova, a family friend of nearly 20 years, and who was seated in the driver’s seat of the SUV, appeared to be trying to get Cinsneros out of the vehicle. When Cisneros' wife saw Cordova suddenly pull away with her husband still in the SUV, she jumped in her car and followed them. Cordova stopped his SUV around the corner on Oakwood Road, jumped out, opened the trunk, and retrieved a long knife. Cordova then opened the passenger side of the SUV and began stabbing Cisneros repeatedly in the neck and body. Cisneros' wife attempted to stop the attack by grabbing Cordova, who then began slashing and stabbing her. Several passing motorists stopped and intervened, ultimately subduing Cordova until members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrived. The knife used during the attack was recovered at the scene.
Cisneros was pronounced dead at the scene. Cisneros' wife was transported to Huntington Hospital where she was treated for her stab wounds. It is unknown at this time what Cordova’s motive was in killing Cisneros.
On February 17, 2023, Cordova was arraigned by District Court Judge, the Honorable Rosann Orlando, for the charge of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony. He pleaded not guilty, was remanded, and is due back in court on March 6, 2023. Cordova is being represented by John Manley, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Principal Assistant District Attorney Frank Schroeder of the Homicide Bureau.