Roommate who tried to intervene in fatal attack on woman speaks out

Melody Hernandez, a roommate, is devastated and emotionally distraught after witnessing a fatal knife attack on her roommate, Gregoria Alilio. The attack occurred last Saturday in Markham, where Alilio had moved into the North York apartment on October 17. Hernandez had agreed to let Alilio stay with her after her cousin, who worked at the same auto parts company, suggested she needed a safe place to live due to her ex-boyfriend's restraining order.

Alilio had expressed her fear of the ex-boyfriend, Gregoria Alilio, to Hernandez. On Saturday, Hernandez received a text from Alilio, who was out all day, stating she couldn't find parking and saw a man standing next to her vehicle. Hernandez, thinking it was the ex-boyfriend, immediately intervened and managed to free Alilio from the man's chokehold but was stabbed three times in the stomach.

The man then stabbed Alilio a fourth time before attempting to slit his own throat. Alilio managed to call 911 five times, but no one answered until the fifth attempt. The man died at the scene, while Alilio was taken to the hospital and later died of her injuries. Police are investigating the incident as a case of intimate partner violence.

The suspect, identified as Reydel Del Rosario, was charged with various offenses related to the incident and released on his own recognizance with several conditions. Hernandez expressed her anger and disbelief, stating that she wished she could have prevented the attack and felt betrayed by Alilio's actions.