Photos by staff photographer Paul Wang except where noted. See story below slide show.

By: Carolyn Maxwell, Katherine Massopust and Ron Miskoff

PERTH AMBOY – Anibal Rodriguez (known on the street as “Peanut”), 75, stands accused of  fatally stabbing Phillip Willis, 65, in an apparently unprovoked attack in the center of the Business District on Smith Street just shortly before 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 3.

Phillip Willis
Photo in the Window of Gomez Dry Cleaners

According to one source, Rodriguez, a resident of the Palace Hotel at 286 Madison Avenue, got into an argument with another Palace Hotel resident, a woman whose first name is Joanne.  She was in the office complaining to the Office Manger about Rodriguez’s unwelcome advances, according to one source. When Rodriguez overheard her complaints, he stormed into the office, prompting the Office Manager to try to calm him down, the witness said.

At that point, the witness said, Rodriguez became agitated, pulled out a large knife and started to stab Joanne. Upon hearing screams, a 24-year-old man ran into the building to try to help the Office Manager subdue Rodriguez. Joanne managed to escape to the restaurant next door where she was safely able to wait for medical attention. She was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, police said.

Police said that, despite Rodriguez’ attempted attacks on them, the Office Manager and the 24-year-old man were able to avoid being seriously injured.

Memorial to Phillip Willis on Smith Street. Photo by Carolyn Maxwell.

In the meantime, Rodriguez ran out of the Palace Hotel and turned right toward the corner of Smith Street and Madison Avenue where he encountered Phillip Willis, according to authorities. Willis was a resident of the Madison Hotel, 278 Madison Avenue, which is down the street a short distance from the Palace Hotel. Willis was acquainted with both Rodriguez and Joanne. said the witnesses. They added that, shortly after running into Willis, Rodriguez caught him totally off guard and started stabbing him with the same knife that he used to attack Joanne. According to witnesses, after the initial stabbing, Willis tried to get away and ran across the street. However, he tripped. Rodriguez continued his assault and stabbed him in the heart, said police.

Rodriguez was subdued by an on-duty Middlesex County Sheriff’s Officer and a civilian passerby, said police.

Willis succumbed to his wounds in the hospital shortly after the attack, a spokesperson said. Willis was described as a quiet man who bothered no one. The condition of the other stabbing victim, Joanne, is unknown.

Rodriguez is being charged with murder, three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and an unlawful possession of a weapon. He is being held in lieu of $1.7 million bail.

This is not the first time Rodriguez has been accused of stabbing someone to death. He was convicted of a similar crime in 1989. The details are available online at this site.

The following is a summary of the information that appears on that site:

Close up of messages of sympathy on the memorial on Smith Street
*Photo by Carolyn Maxwell

Briefly, though, Rodriguez stabbed and killed a woman with whom he had had a relationship. Her name was Carmen Santos. This happened in his apartment in Perth Amboy on November 13, 1989. Santos died  from excessive blood loss resulting from multiple stab wounds to her face, arms and torso. After murdering Santos, Rodriguez ran out of his apartment naked and rode a bicycle, bragging he killed his wife (they were not married). He crashed and hit his head and was then apprehended. Rodriguez was found guilty of aggravated manslaughter. He was also found guilty of possession of weapons for an unlawful purpose (machete, knife, and razor blade).  He served 14 years in prison but his case was later reopened in 2003.

Rodriguez had previously been married to another woman and had a history of domestic violence against his ex-wife. A psychiatrist, Dr. Weiner, was called in to testify. He cited the defendant’s history of domestic violence against his ex-wife. Rodriguez’ ex-wife told Weiner that during their marriage Rodriguez threatened to kill her and even held a knife to her throat while doing so.

Rodriguez’s lawyers appealed, claiming he was not responsible for his actions. He won his appeal and had a retrial.

After serving over 20 years in prison, Rodriguez was released about six years ago.

The Palace Motel is listed on the real estate website loopnet.com for sale (no price listed) and is said to have 37 rooms. A picture of the building is also on the site.

Mayor Wilda Diaz made a statement following the latest incident.

“I want to extend my sincerest sympathies and prayers to the family and friends for the tragic loss of Mr. Phil Willis, who was a loved member of our community. I also want to thank the Perth Amboy Police Department and all involved in protecting our residents and community during the incident,” said Mayor Diaz.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Marchak of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3254, or Detective Mohamed of the Perth Amboy Police Department at 732-442-4400.

As more details become known, the Amboy Guardian will continue to post them on this website, and a full story will also appear in the print edition of The Guardian this week. The full link to the site describing Rodriguez’ previous conviction is:

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/nj-superior-court-appellate-division/1239509.html