Rejected lover high on cocaine told detectives he fatally slashed two women during a crazed stabbing spree after his romantic advance was rebuffed

Kevin Valdez of Inwood, NY was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the April 27 slayings of Jaslynn Pena, 37, and her roommate, Belkis Cruz, 51, inside their apt in Manhattan

Authorities reveal the male suspect confessed to slayings of the two women over romantic rejection

‘She told me she didn’t love me. I stabbed her,’ Kevin Valdez, 27, told the cops who arrested him half a block away within 45 minutes of the crime

Police said Valdez had cocaine on him, a knife, five bottles of prescription medication and Cruz’s cell phone when he was arrested

Appearing in a Manhattan court Tuesday, Valdez was remanded without bail, and his next court date was set for September

A rejected lover high on cocaine told detectives he fatally slashed two women during a crazed stabbing spree after his romantic advance was rebuffed, according to court papers filed Tuesday in Manhattan.
Kevin Valdez, 27, of Inwood, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the April 27 slayings of Jaslynn Pena, 37, and her roommate, Belkis Cruz, 51, inside their apartment on Sherman Ave. near Sickles St.
Kelvin Valdez, whom cops described as Pena’s boyfriend, was taken into custody a block away from the scene with a cut on his hand, investigators said.
“Jaslynn wanted to leave me,” Valdez allegedly confessed to homicide detectives at the 34th Precinct stationhouse less than 12 hours after his arrest, court records show.
“I stabbed her because she didn’t want to be with me,” his taped confession stated. “She tried to push me away, I took out the knife. I stabbed the lady [Cruz]. Jaslynn started screaming for help. She told me to leave, we talked, we started to argue, she told me she didn’t love [me]. I stabbed her, too.”

The two women had lived together for several years, with Cruz renting a room to Pena after the younger woman got a divorce. Cruz later became ill, and Pena continued to live with her.
The bodies of both women were discovered after a neighbor called cops and reported seeing blood seeping into the hallway from under their front door. Valdez, who authorities say had dated Pena, had a history of violence with her.
Valdez was arrested about 45 minutes after the killing — less than a block away. According to police, he had cocaine on him, a knife, five bottles of prescription medication and Cruz’s cell phone.
Also in his taped confession to detectives, Valdez — who has a history of stabbing people when he loses his temper, the indictment shows — said he bought two knives to carry out the carnage the day before.
“The other woman tried to tell me to leave. I stabbed the older woman first. I stabbed Jaslynn second. I stabbed both of them,” Valdez said.
“I went into the bathroom and washed the blood up, I went out the fire escape. I tried to clean up.”

One of the women was found facedown with multiple stab wounds to her body, including her neck, stomach, and face. Prosecutors said the other victim was lying on her back, with knife wounds to her stomach and deep cuts on her arms and neck.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice April Newbauer continued Valdez’s status as remanded without bail Tuesday. His next court date was set for September.