Suspect in retired Villanova professor slaying faces March preliminary hearing

The preliminary hearing for a Germantown man accused of murdering a retired Villanova University professor inside her apartment in December is now scheduled for March 25.

Wednesday’s court date was continued after prosecutors requested more time for discovery.

Jose Diaz, of West Hansberry Street, was arrested on Dec. 20, 2013 in connection to the stabbing death of Carol Ambruster.

Police responded to Ambruster’s building on the 5500 block of Wayne Ave. just after 9 p.m. on Dec. 9, 2013 after receiving a report of someone screaming. There, they found Ambruster, 69, with multiple stab wounds to her chest and neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene 20 minutes later.

Ambruster’s roommate reportedly discovered the body.

“It’s a whodunit case,” said Benjamin Cooper, Diaz’s lawyer. “I don’t think there’s any identification or witnesses or anybody who said I saw him do it or I saw him there or anything like that.”

Cooper said Diaz was a sub-contracted maintenance worker at Ambruster’s building. It’s unclear, he said, how well the two knew one another.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Levenberg, who is prosecuting the case, declined comment.

Diaz will wait for March’s court date behind bars. He also faces charges of burglary, robbery and other offenses.