A quiet Long Island neighborhood was rocked this week after a 46-year-old woman was found stabbed to death inside her home — alongside her injured teenage relative and her estranged husband, who police say attempted to take his own life after the attack.
Adriana Barbosa was discovered with multiple stab wounds Thursday evening at her residence in Suffolk County, according to local authorities. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but did not survive.
Inside the home, officers also found 57-year-old Marcos Leal, Barbosa’s estranged husband, suffering from stab wounds that police say were self-inflicted in an alleged suicide attempt. He was transported to the same hospital with serious injuries.
A teenage relative who was present during the incident also sustained injuries but is expected to recover. Police have not said whether the teen was a direct target.
Authorities responded to the home after receiving a report of a domestic incident. What they walked into was described as a violent and chaotic scene.
Leal has since been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree criminal contempt, and child endangerment. As of Friday afternoon, he remained hospitalized and had not yet been arraigned. It’s unclear whether he has obtained legal representation.
Police have not publicly revealed a motive.
Friends of Barbosa are now mourning her sudden and tragic death. In a heartfelt Facebook tribute, friend Pollyana Belo wrote, “Those who met you know that your qualities were countless, and that you deserved the best this world had to offer. I am deeply disturbed and outraged by such brutality coming from those who should protect you.”
As the investigation continues, the community is left searching for answers — and grappling with the heartbreaking reality of a family shattered in a single night.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or thehotline.org.