Perth Amboy, New Jersey — A 13-year-old girl walked into her family's kitchen in the early morning darkness and found her father stabbing her mother in the stomach. The teenager's frantic 911 call would become a critical piece of evidence in the case that followed.
Wellington Leonardo, 47, was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter by passion or provocation in connection with the death of his wife, 39-year-old Rosanna Rodriguez. A jury acquitted him of the more severe charge of murder. He could be eligible for parole after serving 85% of his sentence.
Background
The couple's marriage was already fracturing when Leonardo attacked his wife on September 21, 2024. According to court documents, Rodriguez had told Leonardo she wanted to end their relationship. Their four daughters—aged 13, 11, 3, and 11 months—were all asleep in the home when the violence erupted around 3 a.m.
Rodriguez's 40th birthday was just days away when she was killed.
The family's life in this Middlesex County city would be forever changed by what happened in that kitchen before dawn. Neighbors would later describe their shock at the police presence that morning, vehicles crowding the quiet residential street as investigators processed the scene of a violence no one had anticipated.
The Investigation
Rosanna Rodriguez was fatally stabbed in the stomach inside her own home while her children slept down the hall. Her oldest daughter told investigators she was awakened by her mother's screaming and discovered Leonardo attacking his wife.
"My dad is trying to stab my mom," the teenager told a 911 dispatcher during the call that was later played at trial, according to court records. The dispatcher instructed her to gather her three younger sisters—aided by the child endangerment evidence presented—and hide in a locked room while waving out a window for arriving officers.
Despite being told to stay away from danger, the courageous teenager returned to the kitchen and threw a bag at Leonardo's head in an attempt to stop him. He reportedly simply stared at his daughter before she retreated and gathered her sisters into her mother's bedroom as Rodriguez had pleaded with her to do.
When police arrived, they found both Leonardo and Rodriguez covered in blood on the kitchen floor. Leonardo was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the attack. Rodriguez was transported to a different medical facility where she was pronounced dead.
Leonardo faced additional charges beyond homicide. He was also convicted of weapons-related offenses and felony child endangerment, stemming from the presence of his four young daughters during the violent attack.
Key Takeaways
- Wellington Leonardo, 47, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for manslaughter by passion or provocation
- His wife Rosanna Rodriguez, 39, was killed in their Perth Amboy home on September 21, 2024
- Their oldest daughter, then 13, discovered the attack and called 911: 'My dad is trying to stab my mom'
- Leonardo was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter, weapons charges, and felony child endangerment
- He can be eligible for parole after serving approximately 17 years of his sentence
What's Next
Leonardo will begin serving his sentence at a state correctional facility. His attorneys have not indicated whether they plan to appeal the conviction or seek modification of the parole eligibility terms.
The four daughters, who ranged from infancy to early adolescence at the time of their mother's death, are now in the custody of family members. The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, which handled the case, has not released further details about their current circumstances.
Rodriguez's death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can escalate when domestic relationships dissolve. Her daughter's quick thinking—gathering her siblings to safety and calling for help—ensured no additional victims in that early morning hours.