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Family of woman, 32, stabbed to death in Times Square, releases heartbreaking statement
The family of Erin Piacenti, the 32-year-old Bank of America executive fatally stabbed in Times Square, has released a heartbreaking tribute to her.
In a statement shared through a GoFundMe set up for her five-month-old daughter, Madison, relatives said they were “devastated” by the unprovoked attack and asked for privacy.
Family release heartbreaking statement
They wrote: “Erin was deeply devoted to her family and friends, exceptionally bright and accomplished, and was someone who brought warmth and energy to the people around her.”
The fundraiser adds: “Erin’s career accomplishments … speak to only a small portion of who she was. To the people who knew and loved her, Erin was a thoughtful daughter and sister, a loyal friend, a devoted partner and companion in every aspect of Frank’s life, and, most recently, an incredibly loving mother to Madison.”
Becoming a mother had been a long-held goal, with the page stating: “Becoming a mother was Erin’s lifelong ambition, and Madison gave her the greatest possible joy.”
Piacenti, a University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law School graduate, married her husband Frank Piacenti on August 10, 2024, after the couple met at law school and advanced in their careers.
The family said: “Erin and Frank celebrated their second wedding anniversary this summer, had just returned from a family road trip upon her passing, and were preparing to build a life together with their new daughter. That life changed incomprehensibly in an instant.”
The couple had bought a four-bedroom, five-bathroom modern home in Chester, New Jersey, in September 2025, and were in the process of decorating when she was killed.
A local paint shop employee recalled: “She was here with her husband for paint for their new house … So sad. That they were married two years ago. The baby.”
The horrifying incident that left Erin dead
On Monday, Piacenti was randomly stabbed by Pamela Cisneros, 49, a Queens mother of three with a long-documented mental health history. Cisneros also seriously injured Tak Kam, 68, before being shot dead by NYPD officers as she advanced on them with a knife in each hand.
Police said Cisneros had prior mental-health-related encounters in 2018 and 2019 but no arrest record.
At Bank of America, where Piacenti had worked for about 18 months as a vice president in the business selection and conflicts team, staff described her as sharp and well-liked.
One colleague said: “She was a beautiful young lady, very sharp … It’s very sad, very sad, we are grieving. We all have our heads down – everybody.”
Another worker added: “People are talking about it, how terrible it is and you have to stay alert at all times … You can feel the heaviness in the air.”
Locals in Chester expressed shock and fear, with one resident saying of the city: “The city is getting so dangerous … It’s terrifying.”
Another called the attacks “terrible” and said: “It’s a nightmare … It seems like everyday someone’s getting shot or stabbed in Times Square now.”
The GoFundMe, aimed at supporting Madison as she grows up, had raised more than $400,000, well exceeding their $250,000 target by Thursday. The page explains: “Funds raised will be dedicated to supporting Madison as she grows up surrounded by the family, friends, stories, and memories that will allow her to know just how remarkable her mother was.”