New York dad called 911 after mowing down his ex-wife and stabbing her: ‘Arrest me’
The Queens man who allegedly hit his ex-wife with an SUV – then stabbed her – called the cops himself and told them: ‘I think I killed my wife,’ the police said on Wednesday. prosecutors in court.
When officers arrived on Parsons Boulevard early on Tuesday, Stephen Giraldo, 36, reportedly told them: « I hit my wife – arrest me. »
An MTA employee for 11 years, Giraldo wore a white Tyvek coverall and face mask during his first appearance before Judge Scott Dunn in Queens Criminal Court.
He kept his head bald as Assistant District Attorney Audra Beerman told the judge the couple’s three children were in the car during the ordeal, with the oldest, Stephen, 11, sitting in the front seat.
Moments before Giraldo punched his wife, he told the kids, « Everyone keep your seat belts on, » Beerman said.
Giraldo, a Queens resident who works as a bus driver, had parked in front of her home in Flushing and called their mother – Sophia Giraldo, 41 – and told her to get off.
When she approached the car, he sped up and hit her so hard she flew over the fence, Beerman said.
His white Ford Explorer then hit a wrought iron fence and rolled over onto the driver’s side.
The disturbed father then climbed on top of his son, crawled out the passenger side window, walked over to where Sophia was lying and stabbed her twice under the right breast, Beerman said.
Assistant District Attorney Audra Beerman told a judge that the couple’s three children were in the car during the ordeal, with the eldest sitting in the front seat.
When his wife Sophia Giraldo approached Stephen’s car, he reportedly sped up and hit her so hard she flew over the fence.
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He threw the knife to the side of the house, where police later found it.
He remained at the scene until cops arrived, when he reportedly confessed to the brutal attack.
Sophia – life coach and domestic violence survivor – remains in critical condition, prosecutors said. She suffered severe neurological damage, as well as broken bones in her leg and a stab wound that punctured her liver.
She could be severely neurologically incapacitated if she pulls through, Beerman said.
Friends and family look after children aged 11, 9 and 6. They were not injured in the accident.
Authorities charged Giraldo with attempted murder, assault, possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and endangering the well-being of a child. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
His lawyer, Mary Beth Anderson, requested his release on bail. But Dunn refused, instead returning Giraldo to custody, where he is being watched.
« The brutality of the attack, and the fact that it was committed in full view of the victim’s three young children, stirs grief and outrage in all of us, » said the Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, in a statement.
“My thoughts are with the children.
Sophia runs a life coaching business that helps victims of domestic violence and has described herself as a survivor of betrayal, trauma and abuse. She had filed for divorce in August, according to court records.
Days before the attack, she opened up about what she called her toxic marriage on her podcast, « Unfiltered and Free. »
« I just thought about my expectations and how, following trauma, I tend to expect the negative, » said Giraldo, who is currently at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, in the most recent episode. « I tend to expect the worst thing to happen, the worst-case scenario. You know, all those things. And I want my New Year to be different.
A group of MTA employees who showed up on Tuesday described Stephen as a good guy who was going through a terrible divorce.
Stephen’s brother Jonathan Giraldo echoed this when he told the Post that his brother was a good man and that the podcast was not accurate.
« They were working on some issues, » Jonathan said. “He was trying to work things out with her. My brother is nothing like that. He’s a sweet and kind guy.
Stephen Giraldo will remain suspended without pay until the investigation is complete, the MTA said.
His next court date is January 12.
GB2
