The family of Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America executive who was fatally stabbed in Times Square, has released a statement remembering her as a devoted wife, loving mother and accomplished professional.

Piacenti was killed on August 31, 2026, in what investigators described as an unprovoked attack. The tragedy occurred on what was reportedly her first day back at work after maternity leave.

In a statement shared through a fundraiser for her 5-month-old daughter, Madison, the family said they were devastated by her sudden death and asked for privacy as they grieve.

“Becoming a mother was Erin’s lifelong ambition, and Madison gave her the greatest possible joy,” the family wrote.

They emphasized that Piacenti’s life should be remembered for the person she was rather than the circumstances surrounding her death.

“Erin’s life was defined not by the circumstances of her death, but instead by the way she lived,” the statement said.

Her family described her as exceptionally bright and accomplished, while also emphasizing her warmth, loyalty and deep devotion to the people closest to her.

Piacenti graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham University School of Law. She later built a career in the financial sector and had worked at Bank of America for approximately 18 months as a vice president on the business-selection-and-conflicts team.

She married Frank Piacenti on August 10, 2024, after the two attended Fordham Law together. This summer, the couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary.

According to the family, Erin and Frank had recently returned from a family road trip and were looking forward to building their future together with their young daughter.

“That life changed incomprehensibly in an instant,” the family said.

Relatives said Piacenti’s professional achievements represented only one part of who she was.

“To the people who knew and loved her, Erin was a thoughtful daughter and sister, a loyal friend, a devoted partner and companion in every aspect of Frank’s life, and, most recently, an incredibly loving mother to Madison.”

The couple had also recently purchased a four-bedroom home in Chester, New Jersey, as they prepared for their growing family.

News of Piacenti’s death deeply affected her colleagues at Bank of America. Coworkers described her as intelligent, kind and highly respected, saying employees were grieving following the tragedy.

“She was a beautiful young lady, very sharp,” one colleague said.

The attack also left residents in Chester and surrounding communities shaken. For many, the incident served as another reminder of how unexpectedly violence can affect ordinary people going about their daily lives.

Police said the suspect, 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros, was also connected to an attack that seriously injured another person. She was fatally shot by NYPD officers after allegedly advancing toward them while holding knives.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

As of Wednesday evening, the fundraiser established for Madison’s future had received more than $180,000 toward its $250,000 goal.

For Erin’s family and those who knew her, however, the tragedy is ultimately about more than the circumstances of her death. It is about the life she had built, the family she loved and the future she had been preparing to share with her husband and daughter.