A Bronx woman was brutally stabbed to death inside her car Wednesday night, Sept. 17, 2025, in what her boyfriend described as a random robbery, but her family is raising doubts about his story.
The victim, 30-year-old Anthonella Contreras Linarez, had been with her boyfriend, a 44-year-old man, for three years.
The couple was reportedly on their way to dinner on City Island around 8:10 p.m. when they pulled over near Rodman’s Neck. According to the boyfriend, he stepped out of the vehicle to urinate when two men on a moped approached and attempted to rob Contreras Linarez.
The boyfriend, Franklin Batallas, told police that when she resisted, the attackers stabbed her multiple times. He claimed he rushed back to intervene but was also slashed before the suspects fled.
Authorities said Contreras Linarez suffered stab wounds to her face, neck, and body. Her boyfriend drove her to Montefiore Hospital in New Rochelle, where she died of her injuries. He was treated for wounds and later released in stable condition. Investigators are continuing to question him about the incident.
While police have not ruled out the boyfriend’s version of events, family members expressed skepticism. Her brother, Mayker Contreras, told the New York Post:
“The only question I have for him is, what happened? We want to know the truth about what happened. I’ll tell you the truth, I don’t trust what he says.”
Her father, Marcos Contreras, said the family remains devastated and is awaiting the outcome of the police investigation.
“There is always doubt,” he said.
Authorities continue to investigate the fatal stabbing.
Franklin Batallas has since been arrested and charged with murder, two counts of assault and criminal possession of a weapon in connection to the Wednesday night murder of Anthonella Contreras Linarez.
Police believe that Batallas stabbed Linarez repeatedly.
