The suspected serial killer accused of fatally stabbing three people in Manhattan confessed to targeting his victims because they were “alone” and “distracted,” law enforcement sources revealed Tuesday.
Ramon Rivera, 51, made the chilling admission shortly before appearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, where he was arraigned on three counts of first-degree serial murder.
Rivera, described as bearded and disheveled in his mugshot, showed no emotion as Assistant District Attorney Megan Joy detailed the attacks, which unfolded in a seemingly random and unprovoked rampage Monday morning.
“Rivera embarked on a bloody and violent rampage that took the lives of three innocent New Yorkers who were simply going about their day,” Joy told the court.
Judge Janet McDonnell ordered Rivera held without bail, a decision met with silence from the accused killer. Sources said Rivera displayed the same indifference after his arrest, even sleeping for hours in police custody before waiving his Miranda rights and giving a full confession.
The Timeline of Violence
The spree began around 8:20 a.m. when Rivera allegedly stabbed 36-year-old construction worker Angel Gustavo Lata-Landi in Chelsea. Lata-Landi, from Peekskill, was waiting to be picked up for work when he was attacked.
Later, just before 10:30 a.m., Rivera is accused of fatally stabbing Chang Wang, 67, who was fishing along the East River.
The final victim, 36-year-old Wilma Augustin, was stabbed near the United Nations building around 11 a.m. She was rushed to the hospital but died hours later.
Rivera was arrested shortly after Augustin’s attack, carrying two knives that were allegedly used in the killings, according to court documents.
A Troubled History
Rivera, who is homeless and reportedly struggles with mental health issues, has a lengthy criminal record. He was released from jail last month after serving time for burglary and was under supervised release for a petit larceny charge.
Prosecutors highlighted his felony conviction from 2023 and noted that Rivera is wanted on a fugitive warrant in New Jersey. Judge McDonnell ordered him held on both the murder charges and the outstanding warrant.
Victims’ Families and Community Impact
Lata-Landi’s grieving family attended the arraignment, weeping quietly in the courtroom. They declined to comment after the hearing.
The attacks have left New Yorkers shaken, with many questioning how someone with such a history of offenses was free to roam the streets. Rivera’s next court date has yet to be announced, but the case has already reignited discussions about public safety and mental health in the city.
