Man, 37, Charged In Fatal Stabbing Of Woman In Edison: Prosecutor

A 37-year-old man from Edison was charged in the fatal stabbing of a woman he knew, authorities said.

Joan Franklin Polanco, 37, was detained by NYPD hours after the Sunday, July 21 stabbing, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan.

Lizbeth Benitez-Ramirez, 37, of Edison, was found with multiple stab wounds by her son, they said.

Benitez-Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene.

At about 4:40 p.m., Edison police received a 911 call reporting a stabbing on Horizon Drive.

The investigation determined that Polanco was seen entering the bedroom with a knife and leaving the residence shortly after the incident occurred, Ciccone and Bryan said.

Hours later, Polanco was located and detained by the New York City Police Department. Polanco was charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses, they said.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Hetzell of the Edison Police Department at 732-248-7400 or Detective Morillo of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-8843.