Man arrested in connection with murder of single mom

An arrest has been made in the murder of a single mother found dead in Glen Cove. Police say Jose Cartagena fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend, Yanira Estella Canjura Martinez, of Glen Cove, two weeks

News 12 Staff

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Apr 9, 2015, 2:07 AM

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Updated 3,544 days ago

An arrest has been made in the murder of a single mother found dead in Glen Cove.

Police say Jose Cartagena fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend, Yanira Estella Canjura Martinez, of Glen Cove, two weeks ago.

Police say the 32-year-old mother was on her way to pick up her 5-year-old daughter from day care when she was confronted by Cartagena in a parking lot.

Detective Capt. John Azzata says the pair had been living as a couple until Martinez broke up with him and moved out about a week before she was found stabbed to death.

Police say the 54-year-old hired someone to drive him all the way to California last Friday.

Nassau police, with the help of U.S. marshals, tracked Cartagena across the country and arrested him in Los Angeles on Monday. They say he was working at a vineyard.

Police say Cartagena will face a charge of second-degree murder. He is expected to be back on Long Island in one to two weeks to face a judge.

Martinez's daughter is currently being monitored by Child Protective Services until they can determine which of her relatives is best equipped to take care of her.