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.