Illegal El Salvadorian migrant stabs two women to death, including mom-of-two working at Wendy's to support family

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:55, 3 May 2026 | Updated: 13:56, 3 May 2026 An illegal migrant was arrested in New York after two women were fatally stabbed, including a hardworking mother-of-two who he worked with at a Wendy's.  Rony Yahir Alvarenga Rivera, 22, was taken into custody on Saturday in Long Island after he turned himself in over the deaths of his 32-year-old roommate and 42-year-old coworker, Ana Maria del Aguila-Cordova. Rivera, who was charged with first and second degree murder, was said to have acted in 'anger,' Nassau County Police Chief Patrick Ryder told NBC 4.  'Both females were killed by multiple stab wounds to the neck and torso,' he added.  Aguila-Cordova was found outside of an Island Park Wendy's, where she and Rivera reportedly worked together, at around 12.30am on Friday after she had taken out the trash.  'When officers responded, they observed a lady, a young lady, with blood,' George Darienzo, commanding officer of the Nassau police homicide unit, said, the outlet reported.  Aguila-Cordova was identified by her sister and niece, as her family told CBS News reporter Carolyn Gusoff that they believe they know why she was targeted. The hardworking mother from Long Beach left behind two young children, an eight-year-old and a one-year-old. Rony Yahir Alvarenga Rivera, 22, was taken into custody on Saturday in Long Island after he turned himself in over the deaths of his 32-year-old roommate and 42-year-old coworker Ana Maria del Aguila-Cordova was a hardworking mother from Long Beach left behind two young children, an eight-year-old and a one-year-old, after she was killed on Friday Aguila-Cordova was found outside of an Island Park Wendy's, where she and Rivera reportedly worked together, at around 12.30am on Friday after she had taken out the trash Rivera had lived in the same apartment building as the second victim who was found stabbed to death in her home in Valley Stream.  The woman, who has not yet been identified, was found not long after 3am on Friday. She is believed to have been killed at around 9pm on Thursday night, police said.  'They rent bedrooms at the location and there are general spaces throughout the house they share,' Darienzo said.  'So they cohabitate, acquaintances of one another...As far as a relationship, I'm not aware of specific domestic relationship between those two.' The commanding officer went on to say that, as far as a possible motive for their murders, he could 'sum it up in one word: anger.'  Rivera's arrest sparked criticism against 'open borders' by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor as a Republican and said at a press conference that Rivera came to the US as an unaccompanied minor around age 12.  'Our hearts go out to the two individuals who were murdered. But I want to stress that this didn't have to happen,' he began.  'In 2022, the federal government had a program where any unaccompanied minors that were in the United States automatically would receive papers that let them stay here legally in the form, I believe, of a green card,' Blakeman fumed.  Rivera had lived in the same apartment building as the second victim who was found stabbed to death in her home in Valley Stream The woman, who has not yet been identified, was found not long after 3am on Friday. She is believed to have been killed at around 9pm on Thursday night 'This is a policy that has resulted today in two women being killed. They could've gone on to have very productive and happy lives. But they're no longer with us because of failed policies in the past.' Darienzo added that Rivera is a native of El Salvador and has no known gang affiliation, NBC 4 reported.  Police discovered Rivera at a 7-Eleven store on Atlantic Avenue where he was arrested.  'While we were at that scene [in Valley Stream], we received information that an individual who was stopped at 169 Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook, he asked to see the police,' Darienzo said.  As officers arrived, Rivera told law enforcement he had killed somebody that night, according to Darienzo.  Valley Stream local Angela Bleuler told the outlet: 'It's scary. It's very scary. I've lived here my whole life and this is too close to home.'  Rumeal Richards, a neighbor, added: 'The world is a crazy place, and you can't really be too sure of the people that are directly in front of you sometimes, you know. Rivera is expected in court on Tuesday.  The Daily Mail reached out to Nassau County Police and Wendy's for comment.   No comments have so far been submitted. 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