A man was arrested Thursday in the death of a Queens mother who was stabbed nearly 60 times and whose body was found stuffed in a duffel bag over the weekend, the New York City Police Department said.
David Bonola, 44, was taken into custody on charges of murder, criminal tampering and criminal possession of a weapon in the killing of Orsolya Gaal, according to police.
Gaal, a 51-year-old mother of two, was found in a bag left on the side of the road at the corner of Metropolitan Avenue and Jackie Robinson Parkway in Forest Hills shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday, the NYPD said.
Bonola is a handyman who lived near the victim, according to three law enforcement sources.
He allegedly showed up at the victim’s house and killed her in the basement of the home after an argument, the sources said.
Bonola allegedly admitted guilt during police questioning, two senior police officials with direct knowledge of the conversation said.
Further details are expected at a police news conference at 11:30 p.m.
Police said after detectives found her body in the bag, a trail of blood led them to her Juno Street home about a half-mile away.
Gaal suffered 58 stab wounds to her neck, torso, arm and hand, police sources previously said. Sources said the hand wounds were likely from attempts to fight off the attacker.
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner classified Gaal’s death as a homicide due to “sharp force injuries of the neck.”
Police sources said home security camera footage possibly showed the killer wheeling what appeared to be the duffel bag down 75th Avenue in Forest Hills. Police said the video was part of the case.
Gaal was last seen alive at the Forest Hills Station House. Pub manager Gabriel Veras told NBC New York she “had a Moscow mule, had a bite to eat” and there was “nothing unusual. She didn’t seem frightened or scared or panicked.”
She was believed to have been killed some time after returning home from the pub after 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
“She was a very, very sweet regular. She left alone and we were in shock the next day. Shock,” Veras said.