A Long Island father has been indicted for murder after allegedly stabbing his estranged wife to death while their 16-year-old daughter desperately tried to protect her mother, suffering cuts to her hands as she fought to stop the brutal attack that prosecutors say violated an active protection order.
Teen Daughter Injured Defending Mother
Marcos Aurelio Marques-Leal, 57, faces murder charges in the February 12 killing of Adriana Barbosa at her Farmingdale home. Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney revealed Monday that the couple’s teenage daughter sustained hand injuries as she attempted to shield her mother from the knife attack. Marques-Leal allegedly used a planter to smash through glass doors after trying multiple entrances, then pursued the terrified mother and daughter into a bedroom where they had locked themselves and called 911.
🇺🇸 🔴 HORROR EN LONG ISLAND: Mató a su esposa frente a su hija de 16 años mientras ella intentaba salvarla
Lo que ocurrió el pasado 12 de febrero en Farmingville ha dejado a la comunidad de Long Island sumida en la indignación. Marcos Aurelio Marques-Leal (57) fue acusado… pic.twitter.com/avYe0Rh1I6
— MACHI 👑 (@arroba_machi) March 3, 2026
The attack left Barbosa with fatal stab wounds to her head and neck. Marques-Leal then turned the knife on himself, inflicting wounds to his throat and stomach, but survived his self-inflicted injuries. All three family members were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where doctors pronounced Barbosa dead shortly after arrival. The daughter received treatment for minor injuries and was released.
Protection Order Violated
Prosecutors confirmed Marques-Leal had violated an active order of protection when he appeared at his estranged wife’s residence. The Brazilian immigrant, who was living in the United States legally, now faces charges including murder, burglary, endangering the welfare of a child, and aggravated criminal contempt. District Attorney Tierney condemned the violence in a Monday statement, emphasizing that no family should endure such terror and no child should witness a parent’s murder.
What This Means
The case highlights the devastating consequences when domestic violence escalates despite legal protections. Marques-Leal is scheduled to appear in court on March 25 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the murder charge. Prosecutors have pledged to pursue justice while keeping the victims at the center of the case, acknowledging the permanent trauma inflicted on a teenage girl who witnessed her mother’s killing while trying to prevent it.