Photos Courtesy of Facebook
Iris Rodriguez, 35, left two young children behind after her husband , William Rivas, stabbed her in a jealous rage at her Jackson Heights workplace on 37th Avenue, seen pictured at right.
By Forum Staff
William Rivas, 39, of Corona, has plead guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing death of his estranged wife on August 7, 2019, inside the Tu S’tilo Salon and Spa, on 37 Avenue in Jackson Heights, where she worked.
Sources say Carmen Iris Rodriguez,35 year old mother of two, and her ex-husband, Rivas, had separated after four years of marriage in January, when Rodriguez left because her husband was abusive. Friends of Rodriguez say that Rivas was insane with jealousy because of Iris’ conversations with other men.
The owner of the salon had escorted Rivas out after he argued with Iris but moments later he came back into Tu S’tilo with what was described as a long knife, and repeatedly plunged it his wife’s chest and torso while horrified witnesses looked on.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Rivas lying on top of his estranged wife’s lifeless body. Ridriguez was rushed to a nearby hospital, but died from her injuries.
Queens Supreme Court Justice David Kirschner set sentencing for February 7, 2020, and indicated that he would order the defendant to a determinate term of 25 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years’ post release supervision
Acting DA John M. Ryan said, “This was a horrific act of domestic violence where the defendant in front of horrified onlookers, took out his anger against his wife at her place of business by mercilessly stabbing her to death. The defendant admitted to this brutal crime and he will spend decades locked behind bars as punishment for his actions.”
