In a somber update from Queens, Marcin Pieciak, a Glendale resident, has admitted to the first-degree manslaughter of his girlfriend, Sarah McNally, who was violently killed at a tavern in Maspeth last year. According to a statement obtained by the Queens District Attorney's Office, Pieciak's guilty plea came today as a resolution to the tragic incident that unfolded in March 2024, where McNally was working as a bartender.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz recounted the tragic events, stating, "Marcin Pieciak walked into Sarah McNally’s place of employment and viciously attacked the 41-year-old." Pieciak, 37, was not only responsible for the brutal stabbing of McNally but also attempted to harm himself. According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, the calculated attack left McNally with 19 stab wounds which ultimately severed her spine. Following the attack, Pieciak's escape was thwarted by a bar patron’s courageous intervention.
The court is expected to deliver Pieciak's sentence on November 21, where he will face 24 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. This was confirmed by Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant who is presiding over the case. The details of the crime, according to DA Katz, included Pieciak stabbing McNally repeatedly in the neck, back, and chest causing her significant injuries and leading to heavy bleeding. Moreover, McNally's injuries included a damaged carotid artery and, ultimately proved fatal with her being declared deceased at a local hospital.
Pieciak's self-inflicted wounds, in an attempt to escape accountability for his actions, were severe as he cut his own throat with a second knife. However, he could not manage to leave the scene unapprehended, thanks to the immediate action taken by a bar patron. When the police arrived, they found the defendant with the weapons and disarmed him without further incident. The assistance of Assistant District Attorney Veronika Podoprigora and the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Karen Ross and, John Selkowe, under the overarching guidance of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark, led to the prosecution of the case.
