A New Bedford uncle is headed to state prison for more than a decade after admitting he fatally stabbed his nephew on what was supposed to be a day of celebration. Juan Padilla‑Santana, 43, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of 23‑year‑old Omil Padilla‑Corsino, who was engaged, expecting a child and had a baby shower planned on Aug. 24, 2024, the day of the attack at a South Street apartment.
According to Fall River Reporter, Padilla‑Santana entered his plea in Fall River Superior Court on May 6, and was sentenced the same day to 12½ to 17½ years in state prison. Court records show he received credit for 621 days already served while awaiting trial, and the manslaughter plea resolved an original Bristol County indictment for second‑degree murder.
As reported by Boston.com, New Bedford police were called to the South Street apartment on Aug. 24, 2024, and found Padilla‑Corsino suffering from two stab wounds. He died shortly after at a nearby hospital. Investigators said the violence unfolded after a verbal argument among family members and noted that Padilla‑Santana had moved into the apartment from Puerto Rico about a week before the confrontation.
Family dispute turned deadly
The Boston Globe reported that Padilla‑Corsino’s girlfriend, Yaniksei Santos, and her mother, Yasira Rodriguez, told police they never saw a knife during the altercation and that the fight escalated after Padilla‑Corsino punched his uncle. Defense attorney Edward Molari has said the clash started with the victim and has framed Padilla‑Santana’s actions as self‑defense, while local coverage shows investigators pursued evidence that did not support that version of events.
Prosecutors' view and plea deal
Prosecutors said Padilla‑Santana gave “false and misleading statements” to investigators and argued there was no evidence Padilla‑Corsino was armed at the time of the stabbing, according to Boston.com. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn called the killing “a senseless act of violence,” and court filings show the manslaughter plea brought an end to the second‑degree murder case that followed the August 2024 investigation.
Family members created a GoFundMe after the killing to help cover funeral expenses, the Fall River Reporter noted, although the page was later taken down. With sentencing complete, court records and local reporting state that Padilla‑Santana will serve his prison term with credit for the time he spent in custody while the case moved through Bristol County courts.
