Police seek public's help identifying man in Glen Cove stabbing that left woman dead

Nearly a week after a fatal stabbing in Glen Cove, Nassau County police are asking the public to help identify the man responsible for killing Yanira Estella Canjura Martinez.

The victim, a Glen Cove mother who Homicide Squad detectives said was on her way to pick up her 5-year-old daughter when she was attacked last Thursday, was found stabbed to death in back of 221 Glen St., Glen Cove.

Martinez, 32, was walking south on Pearsall Avenue at about 3:15 p.m. when she was fatally assaulted by a man who stabbed her repeatedly, police said. Det. Capt. John Azzata said at a news conference Friday that Martinez was pronounced dead at Glen Cove Hospital shortly after 4 p.m.

Police have reviewed security camera footage, but Azzata said they were unable to identify the suspect from the video.

Azzata said the girl's father is believed to be in El Salvador. When asked whether the attack could have been related to a domestic issue, the detective said: "We are definitely pursuing that as an avenue."

There were no indications of prior domestic abuse, Azzata said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the stabbing to call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477. All information will be kept confidential and callers are eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”