Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Glen Cove man was arraigned for the murder of his estranged mother-in-law as she left the La Candela II restaurant in West Hempstead after a birthday celebration in September.
Erick Efren Corado Gonzalez, 27, was arraigned Tuesday before Judge Joseph Girardi on charges of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Attempted Assault in the First Degree (a C violent felony); Menacing in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor) and Endangering the Welfare of a Child (an A misdemeanor). He was remanded and is due back in court on November 4, 2024. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 50 years to life in prison.
“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,” said DA Donnelly. “Ana’s husband tried to stop the defendant’s alleged rampage but was slashed in the hands 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.”
DA Donnelly said that on September 28, 2024, the victims, 51-year-old Ana Ruth Espinoza, and her husband, and other family members were celebrating Espinoza’s adult daughter’s birthday at the La Candela II restaurant in West Hempstead.
The defendant, Espinoza’s daughter’s estranged husband, was not invited to the celebration.
At just after midnight on September 29, 2024, the partygoers were leaving the restaurant and heading for their vehicles.
The defendant then approached Espinoza in the parking lot and allegedly stabbed her seven times in the torso.
When her husband tried to intervene, the defendant allegedly stabbed him in his hand.
Espinoza’s adult son also tried to help his mother, and the defendant allegedly pointed an imitation pistol at the man and threatened him not to follow him.
The defendant then fled the scene.
The alleged attack took place in the presence of the defendant’s two-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 pronounced deceased at 3:58 a.m.
The defendant fled the state after the stabbing and was arrested on September 29, 2024, in Linden, New Jersey by local authorities. He was extradited to Nassau County on October 22, 2024.
A knife was recovered from the restaurant’s parking lot and an imitation pistol was recovered from the defendant’s car trunk.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsels Tracy Keeton and Kirk Sendlein of the Homicide Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jared Rosenblatt and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Joseph LoPiccolo, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.