Wilson Felipe Andrade-Molina, of Brentwood, convicted in fatal stabbing of cousin

A Brentwood man who prosecutors say searched the internet to learn the penalty for murder before fatally stabbing his cousin and attacking his cousin’s girlfriend was found guilty Thursday.

Wilson Felipe Andrade-Molina, 38, of Brentwood, was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder after a three-week trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

He faces up to 50 years to life in prison, a statement said.

“While this guilty verdict will never reverse the extreme violence and tragic outcome that resulted from this defendant’s deadly actions, we hope that it brings a small measure of peace to the victims and their families,” said Tierney.

On March 30, 2023, at about 7:20 a.m., surveillance video captured Andrade-Molina arriving at Electronic Machine Parts in Hauppauge for work shortly before his cousin Miguel Andrade-Cando arrived for his shift, according to evidence presented at trial.

Within minutes of Andrade-Cando’s arrival, Andrade-Molina fatally stabbed him in the neck.

The owner of the business discovered Andrade-Cando lifeless on the floor in a pool of blood, prosecutors said.

Immediately after killing his cousin, Andrade-Molina went to Andrade-Cando’s home in Brentwood, which his cousin shared with his girlfriend, Santa Pena, and her 21-year-old son.

Andrade-Molina entered the home and stabbed Pena about nine times, nearly killing her, prosecutors said.

Pena’s son, who was asleep at the time, woke to his mother's screams as she was being attacked. When the young man tried to go to his mother’s aid, Andrade-Molina advanced toward him with the knife and threatened him, officials said.

Andrade-Molina then went back to the woman and continued to stab her before fleeing the scene.

Suffolk County police arrested Andrade-Molina in Bay Shore a short time later.

Pena suffered life-threatening injuries including a lacerated liver, arm, shoulder, breast and torso, and a punctured diaphragm and lung, officials said.

Newsday previously reported that during opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos said Andrade-Molina had searched the internet for “How many years do you get for homicide?” to learn the penalty for murder the evening before he fatally stabbed his cousin.

Rizopoulos also said that DNA found on the handle of a knife in a lunch bag matched Andrade-Molina and blood detected on the blade matched his cousin. Surveillance footage showed Andrade-Molina leaving the machine shop and entering the apartment with the bag. Andrade-Condo’s DNA was also detected on the bloodstained steering wheel, work goggles and jacket in Andrade-Molina’s car at the time of his arrest, the prosecutor said.

Steven Politi, Andrade-Molina’s attorney, said his client loved his cousin, who was like a brother to him, and that he will appeal the decision.

“I know that my client would never ever, ever, kill his cousin,” he said.