Posted on: October 30, 2026 07:30 AM

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Richmond hill man charged with murder for killing estranged wife

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Angel Apodaca was charged with murder for the death of 24-year-old Tania Morales Garcia. Apodaca went to his estranged wife’s Kew Gardens Hills apartment, where she lived with their 2-year-old son, and allegedly stabbed her multiple times.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, Angel Apodaca ruthlessly stabbed his estranged wife approximately 40 times. This senseless brutality was carried out while the couple’s 2-year-old son was in the home. Our thoughts are with Tania Morales Garcia’s loved ones as we seek justice on her behalf.”

Apodaca, 22, of Richmond Hill, was arraigned today on a criminal complaint charging him with murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Queens Supreme Criminal Court Judge Thomas Wright-Fernandez remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court November 1. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison, if convicted.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on October 26, between approximately 7 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. Apodaca stabbed to death Tania Morales Garcia in her apartment on Park Drive East in Kew Gardens Hills. The couple’s 2-year-old son was at home during that time.

Police received multiple 911 calls directing them to the victim’s apartment. When NYPD officers arrived, they found Morales Garcia lying unresponsive in a pool of blood in the bedroom with multiple stab wounds to her head and body and slash wounds on the arms.

The defendant was present in the apartment with cuts on his hands and blood on his clothing. Morales Garcia’s 2-year-old son was also in the apartment with blood on his clothing.

The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead from her injuries which included approximately 40 stab wounds, a majority of which were to her back. The child was evaluated at a local hospital and determined to have no physical injuries.

A knife with blood on it was recovered from a dresser.

Apodaca was taken to a local hospital for treatment of the cuts on his hands.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Abigail Soto of the 107th Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Anthony Faranda of the Queens South Homicide Squad.

From DA