Queens man admits to stabbing girlfriend to death after body found in car trunk: DA

A Queens man who fled the state after his girlfriend’s body was found in the trunk of her own car has pleaded guilty to her fatal stabbing, prosecutors said.

Luis Zambrano, 30, of Flushing, entered his guilty plea on Wednesday on charges of first-degree manslaughter and third-degree attempted burglary on an unrelated crime. According to the district attorney’s office, he faces sentencing on April 19, at which time the judge is expected to give him 25 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and a consecutive term of up to three years for the attempted burglary.

“A young mother’s life was senselessly cut short by the man who professed to love her,” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said in a statement. “To hide his actions, he hid her bloody body in the trunk of her own car and then fled the state, only to be caught a few days later. He will now face a lengthy term behind bars when sentenced next month.”

Zambrano’s girlfriend, Angie Escobar, 28, was last seen on Sept. 4, 2015, according to prosecutors. Her family reported her missing four days later. On Sept. 10, Escobar’s decomposing body was found in the trunk of her Nissan Maxima, which had been abandoned near 22nd Avenue and Murray Street in Whitestone, Queens.

A medical examiner’s report allegedly showed that Escobar was repeatedly stabbed her on or about Sept. 6.

Zambrano was arrested in Daleville, Virginia, on September 18. In addition to admitting that he intended “to cause serious physical injury” to Escobar, he also in his plea said that he broke into the Paradise Alley Bar, at 41-09 150th St.in Queens, on the night of Oct. 2, 2013, when he stole about $100 in cash and three bottles of alcohol.