New Jersey man charged with murder of fiancée after publicized proposal
A New Jersey man, 52-year-old Jose Melo, a registered sex offender, is facing charges of first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing his fiancée, Naket Jadix Trinidad Maldonado, just one day after proposing to her.
The proposal, which took place at a local club, was captured on video and shared on social media, where it quickly went viral. The video showed Melo getting down on one knee to present a ring to 31-year-old Maldonado, as onlookers clapped and cheered.
Viral proposal ends in tragedy
In the widely circulated video, Melo is seen holding a ring as Maldonado approaches him, kisses him, and accepts his proposal. The two embrace, sharing a kiss as the crowd celebrates. Melo captioned the video on Facebook with the words, “I love you baby Flaka Naky Bella.”
Less than 24 hours later, on December 30, police responded to a stabbing report around 9 a.m. They discovered Maldonado’s body and arrested Melo shortly after, according to the New York Post.
“Senselessly taken from us”
Maldonado, a mother of two daughters and originally from Puerto Rico, was described as a loving parent and family member. Her aunt wrote on a GoFundMe page, “Naky was senselessly taken from us in an act of evil. This horrible act by someone she trusted left her two children without either parent and with very little options for their future.”
The GoFundMe page seeks to raise funds to support her two daughters, who now face an uncertain future following their mother’s tragic death.
A history of violence
Melo’s criminal past has also come under scrutiny. He was arrested in 2010 after sexually assaulting a woman and threatening her with a box cutter. Following the incident, he was registered as a tier two sex offender in New Jersey, which indicates a moderate risk of reoffending.
Despite his past, Melo appeared to have rebuilt his life as a DJ and maintained an active presence on social media, where he shared the ill-fated proposal video.
Community shaken by the loss
The tragic incident has left the community in shock and mourning, with many expressing disbelief that such a joyful public moment could take such a dark turn.
Law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing, while family and friends mourn Maldonado’s untimely death.