A young Manhattan woman was stabbed to death yesterday by a former boyfriend, who then fled into a park, where he tried to kill himself, authorities and the victim’s family said.
Edith Rojas, 19, was attacked by 21-year-old Jonathan Pena Castillo man at 3:47 p.m. on the sidewalk outside her family’s apartment building on Thayer Streetin Inwood, cops said.
In a desperate bid for help, the dying Rojas called her mom from her cellphone, said a neighbor who witnessed the horrific scene.
“Her mother came screaming down the stairs. She was crazed,” said the neighbor, who was getting her mail in the lobby just after Rojas was attacked.
“Her mother ran out to the sidewalk, she was holding her daughter’s wounds with her hands. She just screamed until the ambulance arrived,” the neighbor said. “They had to pull the mother off her daughter.”
Rojas was pronounced dead at New York Presbyterian Hospital, police said.
Castillo fled to Inwood Hill Park and stabbed himself in the neck and abdomen before being caught, police said.
No charges had been filed as of late last night. Castillo was in critical condition at St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was in custody.
About 20 relatives and friends were gathered last night at Rojas’ family apartment.
“It’s a really bad time,” her father said through tears.
A neighbor, Angel Cabreja, said, “It’s is so sad. She was a quiet person, a very respectful young lady. She never went looking for trouble. It’s a tragedy that this bastard did this.”