Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr., today announced the sentencing of GERALDO BALBUENA, 71, to 20 years-to-life in state prison for fatally stabbing his 80-year-old wife Leonilda Nuez Balbuena in their Hamilton Heights apartment in June 2022. On December 5, 2025, BALBUENA pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to one count of Murder in the Second Degree.
“Geraldo Balbuena brutally murdered his wife of 50 years, viciously stabbing her in the apartment they shared,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Leonilda Nuez Balbuena was a cherished member of her family, and her life should not have ended in such an egregious and reprehensible act of intimate partner violence. For his actions, Balbuena will serve a lengthy prison term, and my thoughts remain with the family as they continue to grieve this devastating loss.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, BALBUENA and Leonilda Nuez Balbuena were married for approximately 50 years and lived in separate bedrooms in the apartment they shared in Hamilton Heights, near West 144th Street and Broadway. On June 10, 2022, at approximately 9:20 p.m., the couple got into an argument when BALBUENA returned home. As admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, BALBUENA followed Mrs. Balbuena into her bedroom and stabbed her multiple times in the torso.
At approximately 10 p.m., BALBUENA called a relative and stated in substance that he did “something bad” and was going to kill himself. Concerned, the relative called 911 and NYPD officers responded, arriving at the apartment minutes later and finding the door locked. Officers went to the adjoining fire escape and, through the window, observed BALBUENA holding a knife. The officers entered the apartment through an open window and found Mrs. Balbuena lying unresponsive on the bedroom floor. BALBUENA was arrested at the scene.
Mrs. Balbuena was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead due to multiple stab wounds to her chest and abdomen after CPR was attempted to revive her.
Assistant D.A.s Heather Pearson and Shanni Davidowitz handled the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Siobhan Carty (Chief of Trial Bureau 80), Shannon Lucey (Deputy Division Chief of the Special Victims Division) and Executive D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division). Investigative Analyst Andrea Cipriano (Trial Bureau 80) provided invaluable assistance in this case.
D.A. Bragg thanked Detective William Garcia and the 30th Precinct Detective Squad and the NYPD Manhattan North Homicide Squad.
Defendant Information:
GERALDO BALBUENA
New York, NY
Convicted:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
Sentenced:
- 20 years-to-life in state prison
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