Handyman arrested for murder of Forest Hills mom
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NYPD officers and investigators announced the arrest of 44-year-old David Bonola on Thursday, for the murder of Orsolya Gaal over the weekend. Eagle photo by Rachel Vick
By Rachel Vick
The man believed to be responsible for the gruesome stabbing death of a Forest Hills mother over the weekend was arrested by the NYPD on Thursday.
David Bonola, 44, has been charged with murder, criminal tampering and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly stabbing Orsolya Gaal more than 50 times in the basement of the home she shared with her family in Forest Hills on April 16.
“Detectives, through interviews, videos and the public’s help… were able to quickly take this killer off the streets,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig. “I want to assure the public and especially residents of Forest Hills that there are no outstanding suspects.”
While canvassing for videos Wednesday night, officers observed Bonola, who came back voluntarily and made “incriminating statements.”
He confessed to sending threatening text messages from Gaal’s phone to her husband Howard Klein, who was out of town visiting colleges with their eldest son – their youngest son was at home at the time of the killing and was briefly taken into custody for questioning. The family is not believed to be at risk, according to the NYPD.
There is “still a lot of work left to do,” Essig added, as they wait for forensics and video evidence. Investigators believe the knife recovered at the scene came from the home.
Gaal, 51, returned from a night out around 12:20 a.m. and Bonola is believed to have entered the home on Juno Street soon after, though officials were unsure if he was let in or used a spare key the family kept hidden outside.
The handyman, who was believed to be romantically involved with Gaal, was known by the family, though the police declined to comment on whether Gaal’s husband knew about the relationship.
The two had been embroiled in an “intimate” on-and-off relationship for about two years, and were together as recently as earlier this month, according to the NYPD. Whether the relationship had ended permanently prior to Gaal’s murder is still unknown.
“We don’t have her statement,” said Queens Investigation Chief Julie Morel.
Bonola was captured on security footage pulling a hockey bag down the road, leaving a trail of blood, which was found early Saturday morning on Metropolitan Avenue near the Jackie Robinson Parkway, according to police. The NYPD said they believe the body was removed to avoid it being found by the family.
Bonola is believed to have fled through nearby Forest Park, where a jacket believed to be his was found.
Boots and bloodied bandages were found nearby, and Bonola was treated for wounds on his hands Saturday morning.
Gaal is survived by her husband and their two sons, ages 17 and 13.
Bonola was expected to be arraigned Thursday evening, a spokesperson for the Queens District Attorney told the Eagle.
