(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Candelario Cordova, 54, of Huntington Station, was sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty in May to manslaughter and attempted murder for fatally stabbing 58-year-old Roque Cisneros and then stabbing the victim’s wife when she tried to intervene.
“Today’s sentencing of 30 years in prison for the defendant reflects the severity of his heinous actions. By fatally stabbing Mr. Cisneros and then attempting to take the life of the victim’s wife who bravely tried to intervene, he demonstrated a complete disregard for human life and the safety of our community,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This sentence sends our ongoing and clear message that such violent, reprehensible behavior will not be tolerated.”
According to the investigation and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on February 16, 2023, Cordova and Cisneros, who were friends and co-workers, were both sitting in the defendant’s SUV that was parked in front of Cisneros’ home.
Cisneros’ wife, who was looking out of her kitchen window, saw Cordova seated in the driver’s seat and trying to get Cisneros out of the vehicle. The defendant then suddenly drove away with Cisneros still in the SUV, so Cisneros’ wife jumped into her car and followed them. Cordova stopped his SUV around the corner on Oakwood Road, jumped out, opened the trunk, and retrieved a long knife. He then opened the passenger side of the SUV and began stabbing Cisneros repeatedly in the neck and body. Cisneros’ wife attempted to stop the attack by grabbing Cordova, who then began slashing and stabbing her. Several passing motorists stopped and intervened, ultimately subduing Cordova until members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrived. The knife used during the attack was recovered at the scene.
Cisneros was pronounced dead at the scene due to multiple stabs and incise knife wounds. Cisneros’ wife was transported to Huntington Hospital where she was treated for her stab wounds.
On May 14, 2024, Cordova pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins to Manslaughter in the First Degree, and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, both Class B violent felonies.
On July 24, 2024, Justice Collins sentenced Cordova to 30 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He is being represented by Matthew Tuohy, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Frank Schroeder of the Homicide Bureau and Patrick Fedun of the Major Crime Bureau and Raymond Coscia of Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Michael Ronca of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.