Man Indicted In Stabbing Of Suffolk Couple That Killed Man: SCDA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The man who stabbed a Huntington Station couple, killing the man, was indicted on a murder charge, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Wednesday.

Candelario Cordova, 53, of Huntington Station, was accused of fatally stabbing Roque Cisneros, 58, before slashing and stabbing Cisneros's wife, Vilma Campos, 54, in February, authorities said. Cordova, if convicted of the top charge, faces 25 years to life in prison.

"The victim’s wife watched in horror as the defendant allegedly murdered her husband, and then when she tried to intervene, the defendant turned the knife on her," Tierney said in a news release. "Such violence will not be tolerated in Suffolk County."

Campos on Feb. 16 looked out the front window of her home and saw her husband sitting in the front passenger seat of an SUV, officials said. Cordova, a co-worker and friend of Cisneros, was seated in the driver’s seat of the SUV and appeared to be trying to get Cisneros out of the vehicle, prosecutors said.

When Campos saw Cordova suddenly pull away with her husband still in the SUV, she jumped in her car and followed them, officials said. Cordova stopped his SUV around the corner on Oakwood Road and grabbed a long knife from his trunk, authorities said. Cordova opened the passenger side of the SUV and repeatedly stabbed Cisneros in the neck and body, the DA said.

Campos grabbed Cordova, who then began slashing and stabbing her, prosecutors said.

Several drivers stopped and subdued Cordova until Suffolk police arrived, officials said. The knife used during the attack was recovered, investigators said.

Cisneros died of multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, Tierney said. Campos was treated for stab wounds at Huntington Hospital, officials said.

Cordova was arraigned on Wednesday on charges of second-degree murder (a class A felony), second-degree attempted murder (a class B violent felony), first-degree assault (a class B violent felony), and second-degree assault (a class D violent felony).

Cordova was remanded and his case adjourned to April 26. He is represented by Matthew Tuohy. He pleaded not guilty when charged on Feb. 17.