A man from New Jersey is allegedly facing a murder charge after his fiancée was killed the day after he posted a video that appears to show him proposing to her in public.
On December 30, 2024, at around 9:12 a.m. local time, police officers in Elizabeth responded to a stabbing report at a residence on Florida Street, according to a news release from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, shared on January 2.
Upon their arrival, officers found Naket Jadix Trinidad Maldonado, 31, of Elizabeth, who was pronounced dead at the location, the release, also posted on Instagram, noted.
Jose Melo, 52, also residing in Elizabeth, has been charged with “one count of first-degree murder, one count of third-degree weapon possession for unlawful purposes, and one count of fourth-degree unlawful weapon possession,” as confirmed by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to Fox 5 New York, Melo and the victim were engaged.
A video shared on Melo’s Facebook page, seemingly recorded on December 29, showed him proposing in a bar while “Cásate Conmigo” by Silvestre Dangond and Nicky Jam played in the background.
Yolanda De, the victim’s aunt, established a GoFundMe page stating that Naket had been “senselessly taken from us” through “an act of evil.”
In a January 3 update, Trinidad Maldonado’s aunt expressed gratitude to the public for their support, confirming that the victim’s children were “safe and being cared for by family” while “permanent arrangements are in progress.”
As mentioned on the GoFundMe page, Trinidad Maldonado’s funeral services will take place in Florida, and she will be interred at her home in Puerto Rico.
