Family heartbroken after stabbing death of 80-year-old woman in Waterbury

The family of an 80-year-old woman stabbed to death in Waterbury says they are devastated by the tragic events.

Police say 48-year-old Noel Sepulveda murdered his mother, Anacelia Sepulveda, on Thursday.

Officers responded to an apartment on Abbott Terrace around 12:45 p.m. on Thursday for what was originally reported as a medical assist.

When they arrived, they found Noel Sepulveda on the floor. He appeared to be under the influence of drugs, according to police.

Officers also found Anacelia Sepulveda in her bed and suffering from multiple stab wounds, police said. She was later pronounced dead.

Veronice Miranda is Anacelia’s granddaughter.

“I loved her very much,” Miranda said. “Every time I would go in the house, she would always give me a kiss and say ‘bendición.’”

She said she is devastated by the loss of her grandmother.

“I did take a bottle of perfume from her house. It smells just like her when I would give her a kiss. It’s so weird to smell it,” she said.

Noel and Anacelia had been living in the same apartment.

Veronica described what it was like going to her grandma’s apartment for the first time after her death.

“I can remember the smell and how it felt in there and just picturing what was happening,” she said. “It’s really, really scary.”

Miranda says drug use has been a part of her family’s history, but to her knowledge, Noel was doing much better.

“This is why it’s a huge shock. I don’t know what went so wrong, and I just don’t. I don’t believe it. Some days it just seems like it’s all fake.”

Miranda said her grandmother and uncle were very close.

“The person that he loved the most is her, and she loved him the most,” she said.

Despite what happened, Miranda has a message for her uncle.

“That I love him. He knows that we were super close. I can’t find it in my heart yet to say that I do forgive you,” Miranda said.

The family is working on funeral arrangements for Anacelia.

Sepulveda is currently being held on a $2.5 million bond and is due back in court on Wednesday.