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Boyfriend Charged With Murder in Bronx Nurse’s Stabbing After Police Debunk Moped-Mugging Tale

Prosecutors say surveillance footage and forensic findings undercut his account of a moped robbery.

Overview

  • Franklin Batallas, 44, was arrested and charged with murder, assault and weapon possession in the Sept. 17 killing of Anthonella Contreras Linarez, 30, in Pelham Bay Park.
  • At a Saturday arraignment, Judge Ralph Wolf ordered him held without bail, set a Sept. 24 court date, and placed him on suicide watch with mental-health observation.
  • Prosecutors said he did not call 911 and instead drove around making U-turns before taking her to Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
  • Investigators cited video and physical evidence contradicting his story, including surveillance showing no moped along their route and hair from Batallas on the victim’s hands.
  • Mount Sinai confirmed Linarez worked as a registered nurse, and police sources said the couple was in the process of breaking up with Batallas described as jealous.