New York Mother Stabbed to Death

29-year-old Melanie Chianese, health coach and mother of 3-year-old Myles Franolich, was stabbed to death on May 29th in her Wappinger, NY home. Reports on the perpetrator differ, as People Magazine states 38-year-old Paul J. Senecal was her own ex-boyfriend, but Poughkeepsie Journal states Senecal was the ex of Cheryl, Melanie’s mother. Both sources agree that around 5:40 PM, Senecal stabbed Chianese multiple times before fleeing. Poughkeepsie Journal asserts Chianese reached a neighbor’s house and was brought to the MidHudson Regional Hospital before her death.

Senecal was arrested in Poughkeepsie and arraigned in Wappinger Town Court where he was charged with second degree murder. The statement from the sheriff’s office claimed that his motive was “still under investigation,” according to People Magazine. Held without bail in the Dutchess County Jail, Senecal will be represented in court by the Dutchess County Public Defender’s Office, states People Magazine.

Cheryl Chianese and Melanie’s aunts Dawn Chianese and Kaitlin Balioni have set up a GoFundMe for the future care of Myles. They emphasize that because of Myles’ nonverbal autism, he requires “speech, occupational and services for children with special needs,” especially after he has lost the advocacy of his mother.