Authorities have identified a pregnant Florida woman as the victim of a stabbing at the Riviera Motel in Kissimmee. Melinda Irizarry, a mother of one and soon-to-be parent, suffered 14 stab wounds after a pizza delivery driver allegedly attacked her over a $2 tip.
The incident took place on Sunday, December 22, 2024, when Irizarry and her boyfriend ordered a pizza for their family, including their 5-year-old daughter. According to reports, the delivery driver, Brianna Alvelo, 22, became enraged after receiving the $2 tip and returned to the motel room later that night with an unidentified male accomplice.
Armed with a knife, Alvelo forced her way into the motel room, while her accomplice, wearing a mask and carrying a firearm, demanded valuables. In a heroic effort to protect her daughter, Irizarry shielded the child as Alvelo repeatedly stabbed her in the chest, abdomen, arms, and legs.
Witness accounts revealed that Irizarry’s boyfriend was ordered into the bathroom at gunpoint during the attack, leaving her to defend her family. Despite her severe injuries, Irizarry attempted to call for help, but Alvelo smashed her phone before fleeing the scene with stolen items.
During emergency medical treatment, Irizarry was informed that she was pregnant, adding another layer of heartbreak to the already devastating assault. Her injuries, including a ruptured lung, required extensive care, but she and her unborn child are currently in stable condition, according to hospital officials.
Police arrested Alvelo on charges of attempted murder, home invasion with a firearm, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. She remains in custody at the Osceola County Jail. Investigators are still searching for the male accomplice, who has yet to be identified. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Crimeline at (800) 423-8477.
