Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Jose Martinez-Vazquez, 25, and Tiffany Diaz-Cabrera, 21, both of Port Jefferson Station, pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the fatal stabbing of Benjamin Flores-Mendez, 39, also from Port Jefferson Station. Martinez-Vazquez pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree, for fatally stabbing Flores-Mendez. Diaz-Cabrera pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, for acting as a look out while the stabbing took place.
“These defendants conspired to brutally take the life of Benjamin Flores-Mendez, and then did so in a place where Suffolk County residents should feel safe to walk, hike, or bike,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Violence is never the answer, and we will not rest until anyone committing such wanton acts are brought to justice.”
According to court documents and the defendants’ admissions during their guilty plea allocutions, on June 17, 2021, Martinez-Vasquez followed the victim into the Port Jefferson Station entrance of the Setauket-Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail. Martinez-Vazquez admitted to fatally stabbing the victim multiple times while Diaz-Cabrera, Martinez-Vazquez’s girlfriend, served as his lookout. The victim was later discovered lying in the entrance of the trail by Good Samaritans.
On March 5, 2023, Suffolk County homicide detectives arrested both defendants.
On April 22, 2024, Diaz-Cabrera pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis. Diaz-Cabrera is due back in court for sentencing on August 29, 2024. She is being represented by Luigi Belcastro, Esq.
On July 25, 2024, Martinez-Vazquez pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony, before Justice Wilutis. Martinez-Vazquez is due back in court for sentencing on August 28, 2024. He is being represented by John Halverson, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Tara Laterza of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective James Hughes of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.