By Patrick Donachie
A 30-year-old woman was arrested and charged with fatally stabbing her aunt last Thursday inside the South Jamaica home where they both resided, the Queens DA said.
Elizabeth Sanchez, 30, has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession in the killing of her aunt, Maria Palaguachi, 50, District Attorney Richard Brown said. Sanchez is facing charges of attacking Palaguachi with a meat cleaver inside the home, fatally striking her multiple times on the head, neck and shoulder, he said.
“The defendant now faces a lengthy time behind bars for her alleged actions,” Brown said, also revealing that the meat cleaver was recovered at the scene.
Police from the 113th Precinct responded to a 911 call at the home near the corner of 137th Avenue and 174th Street at about 11:07 a.m. last Thursday, according to the NYPD. The home is situated a few blocks south of the Rochdale Village complex. When police arrived, they found Palaguachi unconscious and unresponsive. EMS workers also went to the home, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, the NYPD said.
If Sanchez is convicted, she faces up to 25 years to life in prison, according to the DA’s office. She is currently being held pending arraignment.
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
