A New York City man has reportedly stabbed his wife and daughter to death before turning the knife on himself. Details are still emerging about why Ernesto Cruz stabbed his family to death, but something possessed him one night to end the lives of his family. Not only did he kill them, but he also allegedly did it while he was FaceTiming with another family member. This prompted the relative to call police, who are calling the killings a murder-suicide. Sadly, authorities arrived too late to save the woman and child.
Police responded to a call on July 20, 2025, in Ridgewood, Queens. According to WABC, the police were called by a nephew of 54-year-old Ernesto Cruz. The man, who was not identified, saw Cruz stabbing his wife and young daughter during a FaceTime call. By the time police arrived, the woman and the young girl were already dead.
According to police, the woman, later identified as 41-year-old Ana Pilatagsi-Moposita, was stabbed about 18 times in the neck and chest. Their 2-year-old daughter, Analiz Cruz, was stabbed nine times. Cruz also had stab wounds to his chest, leaving him critically wounded.
Investigators determined that the killings were a domestic incident.
Cruz was taken to the hospital in stable condition, according to an NYPD press release, per People. Later, he was charged with two counts each of murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
“This isn’t normal, you just don’t see gurneys and people filled with blood coming out of a building. That’s not normal. Not in this neighborhood,” a neighbor who chose to remain unidentified told WABC.
The neighbors told the news outlet that the couple mostly kept to themselves. No one had ever noticed fighting. But they also didn’t know the family well.
“I think we are all in shock. Maybe ask us in a few days but right now we’re all in much shock. It’s very sad,” another neighbor said.
An investigation into the stabbing deaths is ongoing.
