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Jose Melo, 52, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and weapons offenses in the fatal stabbing of Naket "Naky" Trinidad, who was found dead at a Florida Street home on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 at 9:12 a.m., according to Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca, and Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves.
In 2009, Melo was charged with kidnapping, simple assault, and aggravated sexual assault-robbery/kidnap/homicide/etc, records show. The following year, he was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual contact for threatening a female with a box cutter and sexually assaulting her, according to the NJ Sex Offender Registry.
A video shared on Facebook captured the joyful moment Trinidad accepted Melo's proposal at Bamboleo Night Club on Dec. 29, 2024. "I love you baby," he captioned the clip.
Friends and loved ones flooded the post with congratulations and excitement, celebrating the couple’s future together. But within 24 hours, those messages of joy turned into condolences as news of Trinidad’s death spread.
"Wow wow How HORRIBLE this GUY 😡 did this 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡," one person seethed. "God rest in his holy glory Flaka Naky Bella 💐 RIP"
"Extremely shocked and confused," another added. "No idea what happened between that night and the next morning. No reason to take anyone’s life. Sad that a lot of people lives are ruined especially their kids. RIP flaca"
Trinidad's family in a GoFundMe campaign says she leaves behind two young daughters. Her relatives in Florida are working to manage her affairs while her aunt is taking care of arrangements in New Jersey.
Trinidad's death shined a light on domestic violence awareness.
"Please take care ladies and get help domestic violence is not worth losing your life," one person wrote on Facebook, tagging Trinidad. "No type of love is worth so much pain."
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