Husband Accused Of Wife's Murder Is Arraigned From His Hospital Bed

LAWRENCE (CBS) – A Lawrence man has been arrested for the murder of his wife.

The Essex District Attorney's Office says 32-year-old Joel Monegro stabbed his wife, 28-year-old Yesenia Torres, to death in a home on Doyle Street Monday afternoon.

Lawrence Police were called to the house around 5 p.m. and found the couple suffering from stab wounds. According to the police report, Monegro told officers he got into a knife fight with Torres but she had stabbed him first. "We stabbed each other, help her out, she's going to die." Torres told police "he stabbed me," before she lost consciousness.

Both were rushed to Lawrence Hospital and then airlifted to hospitals in Boston. Torres died in surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Monegro was reportedly arrested five years ago for beating up Torres. The couple had been together for 13 years.

"I just can't believe, I don't know why he took her away from us," said Janet Colon, Torres' aunt. "She was a loving person, hard-working person, a loving mother."

Neighbor Ana Brea told WBZ-TV the couple has three children - two young boys and a girl.

"It's a big shocker, wow," Brea said Tuesday. "To be honest with you, it's something that you don't know especially when it's things that happen behind closed doors."

She said her father spoke to Monegro recently and he suggested things weren't good.

"He asked my dad, hey I'm moving can you please keep an eye on my kids and stuff, unfortunately, things are not working out with my wife. If you could keep an eye on them, I'd really appreciate that," Brea told WBZ.

"From what we've seen and from what we've witnessed. We never thought that it would actually escalate to this point."

Monegro was arraigned from his hospital bed at Turfs Medical Center on Tuesday. He is being held without bail.

Family members were seen taking diapers and clothing from their house.

Cousin Elis Ortiz said, "We will honor her by taking care of her children and making sure they never forget their mother."