Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Manuel Villar, 52, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the September 2020 fatal stabbing of his 43-year-old wife inside of their Arverne home.

District Attorney Katz said, “This is a heartbreaking case of domestic violence, with three children left without a mother. As a result of his guilty plea, the defendant has admitted guilt for the fatal stabbing of his wife following an argument inside their home. He is now expected to serve a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced by the court for his criminal actions.”

Villar, of Beach 58 Street in Arverne, Queens, pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon to manslaughter in the first degree before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise. Justice Aloise indicated that he will sentence Villar to 24 years in prison to be followed by five years post release supervision on September 6, 2022.

According to the charges, said DA Katz, at approximately 1:30 a.m., on September 24, 2020, the defendant confronted his wife, Ivette Villar, with accusations of infidelity then repeatedly stabbed her in the neck and head. Villar left their Arverne home and called 911 hours later, admitting his deeds to the emergency services operator and providing details of his location. When police arrived to arrest the defendant, a knife was recovered from his vehicle.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Timothy Shortt, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Trials Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter J. McCormack and John W. Kosinski, Senior Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and Karen Ross, Deputy Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.