Man convicted of killing wife last November

Police tape is seen blocking access to Diablo Court in the Woodlawn area last fall after the murder of Yesenia Membrano-Diaz.

A man faces between 20 years to live in prison after being convicted of killing his wife last fall in front of their Woodlawn-area townhouse.

Ricardo Molina-Martinez (Fairfax Police image)

Ricardo Molina-Martinez was found guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing of Yesenia Membrano-Diaz, 35, on Nov. 28, 2016. Molina-Martinez’s trial concluded Sept. 26, according to a Fairfax County Circuit Court employee. 

Police were called to the couple’s townhouse in the 8400 block of Diablo Court (see map) around 4:50 a.m., after a neighbor heard a scream and saw Membrano-Diaz laying on the ground. Membrano-Diaz was suffering from trauma to her upper body and was unresponsive when officers arrived, police said at the time. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Molina-Martinez fled after the incident, but was taken into custody a short time later, according to police. 

The couple had two children, ages 16 and 8, at the time of the killing.

Molina-Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17.