Suspect in murder of NYC mom was her handyman lover

A handyman who had a two-year-long affair with the Queens mother Orsolya Gaal was arrested Wednesday in connection to her murder.

David Bonola, 44, was charged Thursday with murder, criminal tampering and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly stabbing Gaal, 51, over 50 times in the basement of her family’s home with a kitchen knife on Saturday and stuffing her body into a rolling hockey bag, said police.

NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said at a press conference that Bonola had made “incriminating statements” after being taken into custody.

Bonola was “a handyman who was employed by Mrs. Gaal,” who had an on-and-off “intimated affair for approximately two years,” Essig told reporters.

The couple had an argument after the pair rekindled the affair before breaking up yet again. Bonola went over to Gaal’s house early morning on Saturday “to speak about the relationship.” The mother-of-two had returned from a night out alone, as her husband was out of town touring prospective colleges with their 17-year-old son.

“A heated argument ensues between the two in the basement. A knife is brandished, a violent struggle ensues, resulting in our victim being stabbed ruthlessly and brutally in excess of 55 times, causing her demise,” Essig told reporters.

Detectives found the murder weapon at the scene along with his jacket. Her 13-year-old son was upstairs as his mother was murdered, and told authorities he did not know where his mother was when interviewed.

Authorities suspected Gaal’s killer knew here because there were no signs of a break-in. They said Bonola was invited in or used a spare key hidden in a BBQ grill.

The handyman told authorities he was the one who sent threatening messages to her husband, including one that said, “Your whole family is next.”

Bonola had no prior arrests and was acting alone, said they said.