Ex-Lover Indicted Over Forest Hills Mom's Grisly Killing: Queens DA

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — The handyman accused of fatally stabbing a Forest Hills mother more than 50 times in her basement while her son was in the house was arraigned Tuesday on a 13-count indictment, prosecutors announced.

David Bonola, 44, stands accused of murdering Orsolya Gaal, a 51-year-old mother-of-two whose mutilated body was found in her son's duffel bag near Forest Park last month, according to the Queens District Attorney's Office.

"This heinous murder left two teenagers without a mother and terrified an entire community," said District Attorney Melinda Katz.

"As alleged, this defendant brutally stabbed the victim over 50 times before stuffing her body into a duffel bag – which he then dragged for several blocks in an attempt to dispose of the victim’s remains."

The Queens man could face life in prison if convicted of charges that include murder, burglary, concealment of a human corpse, tampering with physical evidence and a criminal weapons charges, prosecutors said.

Bonola, who officials said had a two-year, off-and-on intimate relationship with Gaal while working as her handyman, was hit with murder charges last month after confessing to repeatedly stabbing the married mother in the midst of a fight, according to police and reports.

The South Richmond man stands accused of slashing Gaal's throat and stabbing her upwards of 50 times before stuffing her lifeless body into a bag and wheeling it to the edge of Forest Park, leaving a trail of blood through the streets of Forest Hills, prosecutors said.

After the duffel bag of Gaal's remains were found, police launched an investigation and discovered the alleged murder weapon — a knife — in Bonola's home, according to the DA.

The Queens man also stands accused of making "incriminating statements" during police questioning several days later and allegedly confessing to "stabbing [Gaal] and moving her body," prosecutors said.

Bonola is expected to return to court July 7.

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