Glendale Man Admits to Fatal Stabbing of Girlfriend at Maspeth Tavern
Marcin Pieciak, a resident of Glendale, has acknowledged his culpability in the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend, Sarah McNally. This tragic incident occurred in March 2024 at an Irish tavern, The Céilí House, located in Maspeth, Queens.
Incident Details
On March 30, 2024, at around 6:30 p.m., Pieciak arrived at the tavern where McNally, 41, was working as a bartender. He approached her behind the bar and stabbed her a total of 19 times in the neck, back, and chest.
Critical Injuries and Aftermath
- McNally sustained severe injuries, including damage to her carotid artery and a severed spine.
- She was quickly transported to Elmhurst Hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter.
- Pieciak also inflicted wounds on himself during the incident.
Footage from the tavern captured Pieciak’s violent act, which shocked patrons. Following the attack, witnesses detained him until law enforcement arrived.
Legal Proceedings
Pieciak appeared before Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant in Queens Supreme Court, where he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. On November 21, he faces sentencing, which may include 24 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
Motivation Behind the Attack
Investigators believe the stabbing resulted from Pieciak’s distress over McNally’s plans to return to her homeland, Ireland, after a decade in Queens.
District Attorney Melinda Katz expressed the community’s shock over the murder and emphasized Pieciak’s accountability. McNally was later memorialized in her hometown in County Longford.
