PERTH AMBOY, N.J. — A 47-year-old New Jersey man has received a 20-year sentence for fatally stabbing his wife in their home, a crime that unfolded in front of their four young daughters. The case, which has sparked deep community sorrow, has now concluded following more than a year of legal proceedings.
Wellington Leonardo was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Andrea Carter after being convicted in March of passion-provocation manslaughter. A Middlesex County jury, while rejecting the more severe murder charge, also found him guilty of weapons offenses and child endangerment. Leonardo will need to serve 85% of his sentence—approximately 17 years—before being eligible for parole.
At the sentencing, the court highlighted the profound impact the crime had on the couple’s daughters, who were 13, 11, 3, and just 11 months old at the time of the incident. Judge Carter ruled that Leonardo may not contact his daughters unless they wish to see him, emphasizing the challenging road ahead for the girls, who now must navigate life without their mother.
Leonardo expressed regret during the hearing, stating that he missed his wife, Rosanna Rodriguez, and wished he could turn back time. However, Rodriguez’s sisters disputed his remorse, noting that the family would bear a permanent loss. Rosalia Rodriguez remarked on how the absence of their mother would leave a profound void, while another sister lamented that the girls would spend more time grieving their mother than they had with her.
The tragic events unfolded during the early hours of September 21, 2024, when emergency responders arrived at the family’s home on Bertrand Avenue. Reports indicated that both Leonardo and Rodriguez were found bleeding on the kitchen floor. While Rodriguez was taken to Hackensack Meridian Health Raritan Bay Medical Center, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Leonardo received treatment at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
A key witness to the incident, the couple’s oldest daughter, was only 13 and recounting her experience became central to the trial. She awoke to her mother’s screams and rushed to the kitchen, witnessing the violent altercation. Under duress, she called 911, desperately informing the dispatcher that her father was attacking her mother. The call, which was played during the trial, provided a chilling glimpse into the emergency as the girl sought help while trying to protect her younger siblings.
During the trial, evidence suggested that Rodriguez had expressed a desire to end her marriage, a factor that painted a complex backdrop for the jury. They ultimately convicted Leonardo of a lesser charge of manslaughter, focusing on the emotional turmoil rather than a premeditated murder.
The verdict allowed the jury to recognize Leonardo’s responsibility in the death while acknowledging the circumstances that led to the tragic confrontation. The separate charges of weapons use and child endangerment underscored the immediate danger the children faced during the violent incident.
Rodriguez, who was remembered as a dedicated mother and community member, worked as an apartment inspector and was well-regarded in Perth Amboy’s Dominican community. Mayor Helmin Caba expressed condolences, labeling her death a tragedy, and the community held vigils in her honor, turning the focus to the care of her surviving children.
Now, as Leonardo prepares to serve his sentence, the impact of this crime resonates deeply within the family and the wider community. The daughters faced a future without their mother, a loss that words and proceedings could not undo.