Teen Girl Tried To Save Mother As Husband Stabbed Her To Death: Police

PERTH AMBOY, NJ — The teen daughter of the Perth Amboy woman police say was stabbed by her husband tried to intervene and save her mother's life after awakening to her mother's screams in the middle of the night, according to court documents that reveal new details into the fatal attack.

Rosana Rodriguez, 40, was stabbed to death by her husband, Wellington Leonardo, in the kitchen of their apartment at 2:57 a.m. Sept. 21, alleges the Middlesex County Prosecutor. The couple's daughter, 13, told authorities she woke up in the middle of the night on Sept. 21 to the sounds of her mother screaming.

Rodriguez had recently told Leonardo she was ending the relationship, according to police.

The teen girl left her bedroom and walked out to see her father, Leonardo, stabbing her mother in the stomach area, according to the affidavit. Her mother yelled for her to call 911 and the girl did, running into her mother's room to call for help. When she returned to the kitchen, she told police her father was still stabbing her mother and she tried to intervene by throwing a black bag at his head to get him to stop.

"It resulted in him turning and looking at her with a blank stare," read the affidavit.

Police received the 911 call at 2:57 a.m. After calling 911, the girl then retreated into her mother's room and waited there with her younger sisters, ages 11, 3 and 11 months, until police arrived.

When police first arrived to the scene on Bertrand Avenue, they found Rodriguez lying on her back on the floor of the kitchen. Leonardo, her husband, was lying partially on top of her. Both were covered in blood, and a silver kitchen knife was located near Leonardo's feet, according to an affidavit from Perth Amboy Police.

Both appeared to have been injured, but of the two, the woman was more seriously injured. Perth Amboy Police tried to give her first aid and she was rushed to Raritan Bay Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead due to multiple stab wounds, police said.

Leonardo was brought to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He has since been charged with one count of first-degree murder, two weapons offenses and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Jail.

She was the mother to four daughters, ages 13, 11, 3 and 11 months, according to this GoFundMe set up to raise money for the four girls.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to call Detective Danny Hernandez of the Perth Amboy Police Department at 732-324-3805 or Detective Michelle Coppola of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3477.

"It is with broken hearts that we share the devastating loss of our dearest Rosanna, who was tragically murdered on 9/21/24 at just 40 years old," read the fundraising page. "She was a compassionate and caring soul who touched the lives of everyone around her. She was an aunt, sister, mother and daughter. Rosanna leaves behind four beautiful daughters, ages 13, 11, 3 and 11 months, who now face life without their mother."

Initial Patch report on this incident: Perth Amboy Man Accused Of Fatally Stabbing Wife With Kids Present (Sept. 23)