Ignacio Espinal arrested for murder of wife in Somerville

Ignacio Espinal, 55, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the fatal stabbing of his wife, Alyne Silva Espinal, 46, in Somerville, New Jersey.

Authorities report the attack occurred on August 6 at the couple’s Brookside Avenue residence. Emergency responders arrived at approximately 7:30 p.m. on August 7 after a 911 call regarding the victim's welfare. Officers discovered Alyne Espinal with multiple lacerations to her chest, neck, and thigh; she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following a multi-agency investigation involving local police and the FBI, Espinal was apprehended in West New York. In addition to murder, he faces charges of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and third-degree hindering. The couple had recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Investigators have not yet disclosed a motive for the killing.