NJ woman stabbed to death by husband in front of children, cops say

🔴 Police find man and woman on kitchen floor

🔴 Children were present in the house, prosecutors said

🔴 GoFundMe says she had 4 daughters

PERTH AMBOY – A Middlesex County man is charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

Prosecutors said police found Wellinton Leonardo and his wife on the floor of their kitchen early Saturday morning.

According to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office, Perth Amboy police officers arrived at the Bertrand Avenue home around 3 a.m. Someone had called 911 to report a stabbing.

Rosana Rodriguez, 40, of Perth Amboy, was stabbed to death. She was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly afterward.

Leonardo was also hospitalized, but authorities did not disclose what type of injuries he sustained.

Investigators said Leonardo killed his wife and it was not a random act of violence.

In addition to murder, Leonardo is also charged with second-degree child endangerment. There were children in the house when the stabbing occurred, prosecutors said.

He is also accused of weapons offenses.

SEE ALSO: Young woman shot in New Jersey grocery store

GoFundMe wants to support four daughters

According to a GoFundMe campaign, Rodriguez was the mother of four girls. They are 13, 11, 3 and 11 months old.

The fundraiser is intended to cover funeral costs and support the children who have now lost their mother.

By Sunday afternoon, $7,900 had been raised in less than 24 hours.

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