A Bronx man fatally strangled his mother-in-law with a computer cord in a custody dispute over his kids — then put her body in bed and told the children that Grandma was sleeping, according to police and law-enforcement sources Thursday.
Angel Montanez, 39, was remanded without bail on second-degree-murder charges after his 10-year-old son found victim Lidia Herrera lying face-up in bed inside the family’s apartment on Sheridan Avenue near East 168th Street in Morrisania about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, according to authorities and court records.
Herrera had an order of protection out against her son-in-law, according to court documents. His three children had been living with her in the Sheridan Avenue apartment.
Montanez had gone over to the apartment to visit his kids, sources said — but Herrera told him he couldn’t be there because of the order of protection.
He began arguing with Herrera, and then struck her on the head and strangled her with an HDMI cord, court records allege.
After the scuffle, Montanez moved his mother-in-law to the bed and told his kids their grandmother was asleep, sources said.
Police were alerted after Montanez’s son went to check on Herrera and found her dead in bed.
Neighbor Alawe Issaka, 32, told The Post that the children’s mother had passed away just a few months before.
“This is sad, very sad. Three little children have no parents and no grandmother,” the resident said.