A New York City man made up a story about a mugging to cover his murder of his girlfriend Wednesday night in the Bronx.
Franklin Batallas, 44, told police he and 30-year-old Anthonella Contreras Linaraz were ambushed in Pelham Bay Park just after 8 p.m. when he stopped his car to urinate, WABC reported. He said two men on mopeds attacked them.
He said he drove her to a hospital, where she died, despite being stabbed in the arm himself.
By Thursday, though, investigators brought Batallas in for questioning and ultimately charged him with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
Police said the couple was in the process of breaking up, but relatives told News12 they’d already broken up and Batallas had been stalking her.
Mount Sinai Hospital said that Linaraz worked as a registered nurse at Mount Sinai Morningside.
“The Mount Sinai Health System community is mourning the loss of one of our own,” the hospital said in a statement, according to WABC. “We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to family, friends and colleagues, and ask that you keep them in your thoughts.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Franklin Batallas/WABC screenshot]
