Erick Efren Corado Gonzalez, of Glen Cove, charged with murder in fatal stabbing of his mother-in-law following a birthday party last month, DA says

A Glen Cove man who allegedly stabbed his mother-in-law in the neck seven times was arraigned on murder charges Wednesday after being extradited from New Jersey, where authorities say he fled after the attack.

Erick Efren Corado Gonzalez, 27, of Seacliff Avenue, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, attempted assault, menacing, weapons possession and endangering the welfare of a child, according to prosecutors and his lawyer.

He is accused of attacking Ana Ruth Espinoza, 52, outside La Candela II in the restaurant parking lot in West Hempstead after her daughter’s birthday party on Sept. 28.

Gonzalez, the estranged husband of Espinoza’s daughter, was not invited to the celebration but confronted the group just after midnight on Sept. 29 as they approached their cars.

He stabbed the family matriarch seven times and wounded her husband in the hand when he tried to stop the attack, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.

"Ana Ruth Espinoza was out with family celebrating her daughter’s birthday at a West Hempstead restaurant and saying her goodbyes when she was allegedly ambushed by Erick Gonzalez, her daughter’s estranged husband, and ruthlessly stabbed seven times," Donnelly said. "Ana’s husband tried to stop the defendant’s alleged rampage but was slashed in the hand when he intervened. Tragically, Ana’s injuries were too severe and she died later that morning at the hospital. Our thoughts are with her family and friends as they continue to mourn her violent and senseless death."

The victim’s adult son also tried to stop his sister’s knife-wielding husband, but Gonzalez held him at bay with a fake pistol and warned him not to trail him, according to prosecutors.

Gonzalez’s 2-year-old son also witnessed the attack, Donnelly said.

First responders took the mother-in-law and her husband to NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island for their injuries, but Ana Espinoza lost so much blood that her body went into shock and she died just before 4 a.m. that morning, according to authorities.

Prosecutors said Gonzalez fled to New Jersey, where he was arrested that day in Linden.

Investigators said they found the homicide weapon in the Peruvian restaurant’s parking lot. The fake pistol was found in the trunk of Gonzalez’s car.

His defense attorney, Joseph Lo Piccolo, said he will review the evidence in the case and his client "anticipates preparing for trial and defending himself against the allegations."