Man accused of fatally stabbing nephew during altercation in New Bedford apartment

A 42-year-old man facing murder charges in the death of his nephew is accused of stabbing the 23-year-old in an altercation that broke out Saturday in the New Bedford apartment where they were both living, according to court records.

Juan Padilla-Santana pleaded not guilty on Monday to a murder charge in the death of his nephew, Omil Padilla-Corsino. His attorney, Edward Molari, said in a statement that “by all accounts collected by the authorities, it was Mr. Omil Padilla-Corsino (the alleged victim) who started the physical confrontation with Mr. Padilla-Santana. This is clearly a case of self defense and defense of others, and we expect the investigation to demonstrate that.”

New Bedford police responded to a 911 call reporting the stabbing at the South Street apartment around 1:33 p.m. on Saturday, according to a police report. While officers were on their way, a second 911 call came in from a man who said he was the victim’s uncle, saying they had an argument.

According to the police report, the man did not provide additional information but “repeatedly yelled for an ambulance.”

At the scene, first responders found Padilla-Corsino in the apartment suffering from what appeared to be multiple stab wounds. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. 

Padilla-Corsino lived in the apartment with his girlfriend, Yaniksei Santos, with whom he was expecting a child, and her mother, Yasira Rodriguez, who is dating his uncle, according to the police report. Padilla-Santana had only recently moved into the two-bedroom apartment the week before, arriving from Puerto Rico.

According to the police report, Padilla-Corsino and Santos planned to have their baby shower the day the stabbing took place. Santos told officers that the 23-year-old told her he “had a bad feeling” about the day and that he did not like having his uncle in the apartment. The young couple were allegedly arguing throughout the morning, according to the police report. At one point, Rodriguez allegedly told Padilla-Corsino he would have to leave the apartment when he and her daughter “continued to squabble.” 

Santos told police Padilla-Corsino became upset, saying he paid rent and could not be kicked out, and the argument was continuing when Padilla-Santana came out of a bedroom. 

“Padilla-Corsino said something like, ‘If you’re going to kick me out already, I’ll give you another reason’ as he punched Juan,” the police report states.

The mother and daughter attempted to separate the two men and as they did so, Santos told police she saw her boyfriend was bleeding from the stomach.

Santos and Rodriguez both told officers they did not see a knife during the altercation.

According to the police report, Santos told officers Padilla-Santana and Padilla-Corsino had gotten into a fight several months ago in Puerto Rico. 

After the Saturday stabbing, Padilla-Santana spoke with investigators, waiving his Miranda rights, according to police. He told them that he had been on the phone with his sister in the bedroom he shared with Rodriguez when he heard his nephew arguing with the two women. He told police he was leaving the bedroom when his nephew punched him first in his side and then his head.

“Juan did not know if Padilla-Corsino had a knife but Juan denied having a knife at any point,” the police report states. “He stated whatever happened to Padilla-Corsino happened because Juan was defending himself.” 

Padilla-Santana told police that afterwards he saw a knife on the floor at the entrance to the bedroom, picked it up, put it under a cloth, and left it on a vanity in the bedroom he and Rodriguez shared.

Police said while searching the apartment, they found the knife on the vanity. 

Padilla-Santana was ordered held without bail at his arraignment on Monday. He will return to court for a hearing on Sept. 30.

Dialynn Dwyer

Dialynn Dwyer is a reporter and editor at Boston.com, covering breaking and local news across Boston and New England.

 

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