By Karen Frantz
A Richmond Hill man was charged with stabbing his wife to death in their home last week, covering her head with a plastic bag and stuffing her body under a bed, the Queens District Attorney’s office said, eight months after an order of protection was issued against him.
The woman, Samantha Seelall, 29, was pronounced dead by the EMS at the house, near 89th Avenue and 117th Street, after police received a 911 call around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.
Her husband, Ganesh Seelall, 39, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated criminal contempt and tampering with evidence, the DA’s office said. Seelall was allegedly drunk when police arrived at the scene, according to authorities. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison, the DA’s office said.
According to the DA’s office, Ganesh Seelall is accused of stabbing his wife multiple times in her chest and head and smothering her. Police officers found her naked body with a blanket over her torso and rags tied to her wrists, the office said.
There had been a protective order against Ganesh Seelall directing him to stay away from his wife, which had been issued on her behalf last January, according to the DA’s office.
Seelall was arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge Lenora Gerald Friday and he was being held without bail until his next court date Sept. 10, the DA’s office said.
The husband’s brother, who did not want to give his name, said the couple was married about six years and had one 10-year-old daughter together. He said his brother is a nurse’s aide and also has another 14-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
“It’s not an easy situation,” he said, saying he was at work when he got the phone call about what happened.
He said the children were staying with him.
“They’re holding up,” he said.
Residents who live on the block said they were shocked to hear about the murder in what they said was a quiet and nice neighborhood.
“We’ve never seen anything happen like that,” said Tehal Singh, who lives across the street and said he had lived in the area for 20 years.
Another woman who lives across the street, Emma Vasileva, said she was afraid of being in the neighborhood now.
“I couldn’t sleep the whole night,” she said.
She said she did not know the Seelalls, but she saw the body taken out of the house and was suffering from stomach pains thinking about it.
Reach reporter Karen Frantz by e-mail at kfrantz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
