A West New York couple was discovered lying in a pool of their own blood Monday afternoon in their home on 67th Street and Park Avenue after what appeared to be a domestic dispute that escalated.
Luz Tabares, 38, and Manuel J. Vigao, 48, were found by Tabares’ 15-year-old son on their kitchen floor at about 3 p.m. after he and his sister had arrived home from school, police said.
Tabares was found dead at the scene when police arrived, and Vigao was immediately taken to Jersey City Medical Center in critical condition.
“It appears that there had been a domestic dispute, and it had escalated from there,” said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio. “Court proceedings were going on between the two of them.”
At first, investigators had suspected the incident had been a homicide and an attempted suicide. But their opinion has changed.
“We now believe it was a mutual combat situation; both of them were stabbed multiple times in the chest, abdomen and back,” said DeFazio.
Two knives were recovered at the scene, which are believed to be the weapons used by the parties. Tabares was found with nine stab wounds on various parts of her body and Vigao had been stabbed about seven times.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Vigao was still at Jersey City Medical in life-threatening condition.
Came home from school
Tabares’ son and the couple’s 9-year-old daughter returned from school that day when the son discovered that the front door had been locked. Leaving his little sister to wait in front, he was able to go around and climbed in through the kitchen window, where he found his mother and stepfather.
“The kids were both at school,” DeFazio said. “It was when they came home that the son realized he couldn’t gain access to the house, but the younger sister remained outside. This had happened earlier in the day.”
Sketchy details
Details of the incident are still under investigation. According to DeFazio, it is unclear who first called the West New York Police, who had to force their way into the locked house. The police were unable to comment further, due to the investigation being conducted under the Prosecutor’s Office.
A story in a local daily newspapers said that the son was outside crying when police arrived, and neighbors became aware of what was happening.
DeFazio could not inform the Reporter as to where the kids were currently taken, or comment on any further details of investigation.
Vigao has been brought up on charges.
“He has been charged with homicide, but the investigation is still pending,” said DeFazio. “Hopefully we will get an opportunity to question him.”