BAY RIDGE, Brooklyn (WABC) — The husband of a Brooklyn pre-K teacher has been charged with murder days after she was found dead inside her Bay Ridge apartment.
Mauricio Granda, 47, was arrested Tuesday in the death of Maria Ines Granda, 59.
(video in media player is from a previous report)
According to police, Maria Ines Granda failed to report to work Monday morning, prompting a wellness check at the couple’s apartment on 79th Street. Officers responding to the building found her face down on a sofa with head trauma. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the killing occurred over the weekend.
During Granda’s arraignment Wednesday, prosecutors said he admitted to killing his wife during an argument inside their apartment.
“At the precinct, defendant waived Miranda warnings and stated in sum and substance that on Sept. 12 he used a tool and struck the (victim) on the back of the head,” prosecutors said in court documents.
Prosecutors said Granda told detectives he struck his wife in the back of the head with a tool during the argument, killing her.
As family members searched for answers, the victim’s son went looking for his stepfather and found him Monday near 52nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Sunset Park, sitting inside his mother’s vehicle. He had reportedly barricaded himself inside the car and was unresponsive.
Police announced Tuesday evening that Granda had been arrested and charged with murder.
Following the killing, the couple’s 3-year-old goldendoodle, Canelo, remained missing.
On Tuesday night, the victim’s stepson said he spotted the suspect’s aunt walking the dog. When Canelo jumped up to greet him, the stepson removed the dog from its leash and took him back, authorities said.
Police said an argument followed, and the aunt, Yolanda Granda Trivino, 73, allegedly struck the stepson in the back of the head with the leash.
Officers responded and arrested Granda Trivino. She was charged with assault, menacing, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. She pleaded not guilty and was released without bail.
People who live near the apartment said they were stunned by the allegations.
“We saw the couple walking around, holding hands, sweet, doing laundry together, said hi to them all the time, walking their poodle, never would have thought,” neighbor Marina Madden said.
Granda was ordered held without bail. He is due back in court Sept. 21.
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