Hack Attack - Machete Attacker Sentenced

BRONX - A New Jersey man will serve the next 12 years in prison for hacking his girlfriend in the head with a machete. 

Hector de la Cruz pleaded guilty to the machete attack on his girlfriend in which he hacked the woman across the face, hand, and neck. 

“The defendant hacked at the 20-year-old woman with a machete in an attempt to kill her. He inflicted life-altering injuries requiring reconstructive surgeries,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. “Despite physical and emotional trauma, this young woman bravely worked with our Office to bring the defendant to justice.”

According to the investigation, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on February 21, 2020 inside the lobby of 2685 Grand Concourse, the defendant approached Lisbeth Acosta-Ramirez, 20, with a machete and attempted to cause her death by striking her on the right side of her face, her right hand, and the back of her neck, causing deep bleeding lacerations. 

Acosta-Ramirez was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital and underwent reconstructive and life-saving surgery.

Clark said the defendant, Hector de la Cruz, 29, was sentenced by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Marsha Michael to 12 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to second-degree Attempted Murder on July 26, 2022.