NYPD: Handyman charged in fatal stabbing of Queens woman

A Queens handyman was arrested early Thursday and charged with murder after he "ruthlessly and brutally" stabbed a married Forest Hills woman to death last weekend with whom he was having an affair, the NYPD said.

David Bonola, 44, of 114th Street in South Richmond Hill, was taken into custody after detectives from the 112th Precinct questioned him on the street near his home and he agreed to accompany cops back to the station house, according to the police.

Bonola faces second-degree murder and other charges and was awaiting arraignment late Thursday afternoon.

“He made incriminating statements,” NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said at a news conference, referring to Bonola's questioning by police about the killing of Orsolya Gaal, 51, and the mother of two teenage boys. Essig declined to characterize in detail Bonola’s statements.

“Mr. Bonola is a handyman who is employed by Mrs. Gaal,” the chief said. “They had been having an intimate affair for approximately two years.”

According to events described by Essig, Gaal had returned to her Juno Street home just after midnight last Saturday following a night at Lincoln Center with friends. About 12:30 a.m., Bonola appeared and was either let in voluntarily or used a key hidden in a barbecue, Essig said.

A heated argument between Gaal and Bonola then started in the basement, according to the chief. A knife was brandished before a struggle began in which Bonola stabbed Gaal “ruthlessly and brutally in excess of 55 times,” Essig said. Gaal’s husband, a Manhattan equity firm manager, was reportedly traveling out west with the couple’s 17-year-old son.

Bonola then got a hockey duffle bag used by Gaal’s 13-year-old son, who was sleeping in the house, and stuffed her inside, the police said. Surveillance video then captured a person the police believe to be Bonola rolling the body down the sidewalk, leaving a bloody trail on the sidewalks of Forest Hills

The duffle bag with Gaal's body inside was found about 8:11 a.m. Saturday by a dog walker near the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and the Jackie Robinson Parkway, the NYPD said.

“I just want to assure the public, especially the residents of Forest Hills, that there are no outstanding suspects,” Essig said.

The NYPD said investigators recovered a knife in the home believed to have been used to kill Gaal. Deputy Chief Julie Morrill said the knife appeared to have been taken from a set in the home.

Police believe Gaal had broken off the relationship with Bonola, who had done repair work on her air conditioners, but the pair reconciled in early April. It remained unclear what was said during their final argument although investigators think Gaal wanted to permanently end the relationship, the police said.

After Gaal was killed, Bonola received treatment for wounds at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, according to the police.

Bonola, who moved to the United States from Mexico 21 years ago, had two prior sealed arrests, was married but separated and had children of his own, said a police official.

As Bonola was escorted out of the precinct Thursday to go to court, an onlooker taunted him and he responded with an obscenity, the police said.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.