The Queens man accused of knifing his spouse and two-year-old daughter to loss of life in a double murder-suicide bid stabbed his partner greater than 18 occasions — then started stabbing himself on a FaceTime name to a panicked nephew, officers mentioned Friday.
Ernesto Cruz, 54, wouldn’t converse to detectives after the Saturday night time killings in his Ridgewood dwelling and “just stared at the wall pretending like we weren’t there,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny mentioned at a briefing Thursday.
However the violence he inflicted on his spouse Ana Pilatagsi-Moposita, 41, and daughter Analiz Cruz spoke volumes, officers mentioned.
Cruz stabbed his spouse greater than 18 occasions and plunged the knife six occasions into her coronary heart, Kenny mentioned. He additionally stabbed her within the chest, neck, and face.
One of many wounds severed an artery, which in the end killed her. The kid, Analiz, was additionally stabbed within the chest and neck, cops mentioned.
Theodore Parisienne / New York Day by day Information
Police examine after Ana Pilatagsi-Moposita, 41, and her 2-year-old daughter Analiz Cruz had been fatally stabbed on July 19 of their dwelling on Forest Ave. in Ridgewood. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Day by day Information)
After stabbing his spouse and daughter, Cruz known as his sister, Kenny mentioned.
“Get here,” he mentioned. “They’re dying. Send help.”
“She panics,” Kenny mentioned. “Her son Omar calls back, starts FaceTiming with him. Mom and daughter were already stabbed but FaceTime caught some of him stabbing himself.”
Medics took the mother and father to Elmhurst Hospital, the place Pilatagsi-Moposita died. The infant lady went to Wyckoff Heights Medical Middle however couldn’t be saved.
Cruz had stabbed himself within the chest and was making an attempt to slit his personal wrists when police arrived on the scene and took him to a neighborhood hospital.
Earlier than Saturday’s killing, Cruz and his household weren’t on the NYPD’s radar, Kenny mentioned. Cops had by no means been known as to the house earlier than, he mentioned.
“Family members do state the wife was very jealous because of an incident with her ex-husband” earlier than Cruz, Kenny mentioned. “She’s constantly hounding [Cruz]. The wife asked to see [his] phone.”
Theodore Parisienne / New York Day by day Information
Police examine after Ana Pilatagsi-Moposita, 41, and her 2-year-old daughter Analiz Cruz had been fatally stabbed on July 19 of their dwelling on Forest Ave. in Ridgewood. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Day by day Information)
Cruz was charged with homicide and weapons possession. He was anticipated to be arraigned Friday from his hospital mattress, officers mentioned.
The niece, who declined to offer her identify, final noticed her aunt and little cousin about two weeks in the past and nothing appeared out of the atypical. She has by no means met Cruz.
“We hope he goes to jail for doing that,” she mentioned. “That’s his daughter. His daughter from blood. That’s his only daughter.”
She mentioned little Analiz cherished to bounce.
“She’s joyful,” the niece mentioned. “She always comes hugging me and now I have no one to do that with.”
Her aunt was married as soon as earlier than and has two surviving kids, a 22-year-old son and a 17-year-old son.
“He’s in shock,” she mentioned of the youthful son. “He doesn’t want to talk right now.”
Neighbors mentioned Pilatagsi-Moposita labored as a house well being aide and was typically seen sporting scrubs.
Initially Revealed: July 25, 2025 at 10:40 AM EDT
