25 Years for Running Over Wife with SUV, Stabbing Her in Front of Kids

A Queens man was sentenced to 25 years in prison when he ran over his wife and stabbed her in front of their children. The SUV flipped over in the attack. -Photo by Queens DA's Office

By Dan Gesslein 

Queens Voice 

October 6, 2023 

QUEENS - The Queens man who ran over his wife and then stabbed her in front of their children was sentenced today to 25 years in prison. His victim, the mother of their children, has been in a coma for the past two years. 

Stephen Giraldo, 37, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison. Last month he pleaded guilty to attempted murder when he ran over his wife with his SUV and then stabbed her with the children in the vehicle. Prosecutors said the children looked on in horror as their father stabbed their mother. 

Sophia Giraldo has remained in a coma since the December 2022 attack. 

“This is one of the most brutal cases we have prosecuted,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “To tell your children to ‘buckle up,’ purposefully hit their mother, and then climb over your son to continue your attack with a knife is unconscionable. In holding the defendant accountable and securing a lengthy prison sentence, we hope we have achieved some measure of justice on behalf of the victim and her loved ones.”

Prosecutors said the horrifying scene played out as Giraldo was dropping the three kids off with his estranged wife Sophia. Giraldo pulled his white Ford Explorer up to Sophia’s residence. Video surveillance shows Giraldo get out of the SUV to move a trash bag that was blocking the vehicle and got back inside. Sophia walked out of her home and approached the front of the SUV. 

Giraldo told his children “Keep your seatbelt on.” Prosecutors said Giraldo gunned the SUV and intentionally drove over his wife. The impact caused the Explorer to flip over onto the driver’s side. 

Giraldo climbed over his son in the front passenger seat and climbed out the window. He climbed down off the upturned SUV and proceeded to stab his wife in full view of his children ages 11, 9 and 6. 

Prosecutors said Sophia Giraldo suffered severe neurological damage, broken bones in her leg and a stab wound that punctured her liver. 

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