Thursday, October 1, 2026
A Roosevelt man has pleaded guilty to murder and child endangerment charges for fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in front of their two-year-old son in her Hempstead home last October.
Jose William Funes-Zabala, 44, pleaded guilty on Oct. 29, before Judge Howard Sturim to second-degree murder, an A-I felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, an A misdemeanor.
He is expected to be sentenced on December 18 to 20 years to life in prison.
The District Attorney’s Office had recommended a sentence of 25 years to life.
“Blinded by rage, this defendant brutally and repeatedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend more than 30 times in her home during a visit with his son, leaving the two-year-old to watch the gruesome attack and the life drain from his mother’s eyes,” said District Attorney Donnelly. “The child was later found, soaked in Brenda Guadoloupe Alfaro Alcantara’s blood, after Funes-Zabala fled the scene and heartlessly left his son behind with his mother’s corpse. This was a horrific act of violence that stole a woman’s life and the innocence of a young child. Two lives destroyed because of this defendant’s viciousness and his bruised ego. Our thoughts remain with Brenda’s family and friends as this sick individual is punished for his crimes.”
According to prosecutors, on Oct. 4 of last year, an order of protection against Funes-Zabala, issued on behalf of the victim, 29-year-old Brenda Guadoloupe Alfaro Alcantara, had expired.
The following day, around 5:58 p.m., Funes-Zabala visited Alfaro Alcantara’s basement apartment on Botsford Street in Hempstead to see their son.
When he learned that Alfaro Alcantara had begun dating someone new, an argument broke out. Funes-Zabala then stabbed her approximately 35 times in her bedroom as the child watched.
At about 6:58 p.m., witnesses saw Funes-Zabala leaving the basement apartment with what appeared to be blood on his face. He fled the scene, leaving his uninjured son behind.
Family members, unable to reach Alfaro Alcantara, later discovered the victim and the child in the apartment.
Funes-Zabala was arrested the next day, Oct. 6, 2024, at Nassau University Medical Center by members of the Nassau County Police Department Homicide Squad.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Ania Pulaski of the Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jared Rosenblatt and Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Brian Carmody.
