A Salvadoran national who entered the United States illegally as a child now stands accused of murdering two women in separate stabbing attacks on Long Island. The 22-year-old suspect allegedly killed his roommate and a coworker in what police describe as rage-fueled violence that left both victims with multiple stab wounds.

Two Murders in One Night

Nassau County police arrested Rony Yahir Alvarenga Rivera Friday after responding to a Wendy’s restaurant on Austin Boulevard in Island Park just after midnight. Investigators say Rivera fatally stabbed 42-year-old coworker Ana Maria del Aguila-Cordova while she took out the trash. The mother of two young children, ages eight and one, died from multiple wounds to her neck and torso. Rivera then contacted authorities himself, telling dispatchers he had stabbed someone.

Officers discovered Rivera’s 32-year-old roommate dead inside their Valley Stream apartment on West Mineola Avenue around 3:00 AM. Police believe that murder occurred Thursday evening around 9:00 PM, hours before the Wendy’s killing. Both crime scenes revealed extreme violence, with victims suffering multiple stab wounds in what Nassau Police Chief Patrick Ryder characterized as actions driven by rage.

Border Crossing During Obama Administration

Rivera entered the country illegally from El Salvador in 2016 at age 12, during the final year of Barack Obama’s presidency. Detective Lieutenant George Darienzo, commanding officer of Nassau County’s homicide unit, confirmed Rivera called police after the second murder and surrendered when officers arrived at a location on Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook. When asked about motive, Darienzo summed it up in one word: anger. He declined to provide additional details about what triggered the violence.

Community Mourns Young Mother

Rivera faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder. He has entered not guilty pleas to both counts. The Long Beach community mourns del Aguila-Cordova, whose children now face life without their mother. The case highlights ongoing concerns about border security and the long-term consequences of illegal immigration policies. Rivera’s decade-long presence in the United States raises questions about monitoring systems for individuals who entered as unaccompanied minors during the 2016 migration surge.