Luis Marquez, 41, is being held without bail in the killing of Carmen Yadira Lopez, a 47-year-old mother of four.
NEW YORK — A Bronx man accused of waiting in a Harlem stairwell for hours before ambushing his ex-girlfriend and stabbing her numerous times was arraigned this week, prosecutors said, adding that he told relatives he had been “blackout drunk” and did not remember the attack.
The case centers on the death of Carmen Yadira Lopez, 47, who was found with multiple stab wounds on the third floor of her West 129th Street building early Nov. 10. Prosecutors say her former boyfriend, Luis Marquez, 41, is charged with murder and is being held without bail while the investigation continues. The allegations include surveillance images, statements made after the incident and accounts from building staff who found Lopez and called 911. The killing has rattled neighbors and prompted a vigil as officials outline a timeline that suggests planning before the pre-dawn assault.
Police were called to 409 W. 129th St. shortly after 4 a.m. on Nov. 10, where a porter discovered Lopez near an elevator with deep wounds, according to officials. She was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside and pronounced dead. Investigators say building cameras captured a man waiting in a stairwell for more than two hours before confronting Lopez in the hallway. Prosecutors allege she pleaded with him during the attack. Marquez, identified as an ex-boyfriend, was later taken into custody after relatives brought him to a hospital for evaluation. He allegedly told family members he was “blackout drunk” and could not recall what happened, prosecutors said.
Authorities identified Lopez as a mother of four. Two of her children live in the apartment where the attack occurred; two others live in New Jersey, according to neighbors and relatives. Prosecutors said Lopez suffered dozens of wounds to her chest, abdomen and neck, with fatal injuries to internal organs. They said Marquez later acknowledged recognizing himself in surveillance footage. Police have said the confrontation unfolded in minutes around 4 a.m. after the waiting period in the stairwell. Officials described signs of a struggle in the third-floor corridor, but said the children were not in the hallway when the assault happened. The suspected weapon was described as a large knife; officials have not disclosed where it was recovered.
The killing renewed attention to domestic violence in the neighborhood. A candlelight vigil outside the building drew family and advocates who spoke about Lopez’s life and called for support for survivors. Neighbors described her as a warm presence who kept to herself and cared for her children. Staff at the building told reporters they had not seen a similar crime there before. At a nearby workplace, colleagues said the suspect had been a quiet employee in recent months. The district attorney’s office said the case remains active and that additional forensic testing and video analysis are underway. Officials have not indicated any prior orders of protection in effect at the time.
Marquez is charged with murder in the second degree. He was ordered held without bail at his arraignment and is due back in court on Nov. 17, prosecutors said. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video from inside the building and interviewing additional witnesses. The medical examiner is conducting final autopsy work to confirm the number of wounds and the precise cause of death. Prosecutors said they will present evidence to a grand jury and could add charges as results return from lab testing. Police said they are also tracing the knife and any purchases or movements in the hours before the attack to map the suspect’s route.
Outside the building, mourners left flowers, candles and handwritten notes along the sidewalk. “Her light is in her four children,” one advocate said at the vigil. Neighbors paused to watch investigators carry evidence bags from the lobby as the block slowly reopened. In the afternoon, a maintenance worker mopped the third-floor hallway where the confrontation ended, while residents spoke in hushed tones near the mailboxes. “We’re shaken,” a longtime tenant said, adding that the floor had been quiet on Sunday night before the pre-dawn violence on Monday.
As of Sunday, Marquez remained in custody and the investigation continued. The next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 17, when prosecutors are expected to outline additional findings.
Author note: Last updated November 16, 2025.