Lady Caught After Killing, Attempting to Dismember Superintendent In search of Again Hire: DA

Sandra Coto-Navarro, 48, had beforehand informed police that Portillo had entered her dwelling after which left once more after she’d paid him $23,000, in keeping with the Queens County District Lawyer’s Workplace in a press launch.

It was solely after the constructing’s landlord reviewed the safety footage that police realized he by no means left. They then returned to find a horrifying scene, and the reality.

“This was a grotesque homicide,” mentioned Queens County District Lawyer Melinda Katz.

Coto-Navarro was arrested on January 16 on a cost of second diploma homicide, two counts of tampering with bodily proof and fourth diploma felony possession of a weapon, per the DA’s Workplace. If convicted for homicide, she faces as much as 25 years to life in jail.

In courtroom, Coto-Navarro pleaded not responsible to the fees, as reported by the Gothamist. She was ordered held till her subsequent courtroom look, set for Friday, January 24.

Portillo had gone to the condominium of Coto-Navarro in an effort to choose up $24,000 in unpaid again hire at 8:40 a.m. on January 14, per the press launch. When he did not return to work, his coworkers referred to as the police at roughly 5 p.m.

In line with amNewYorkMetro sources with quick data of the state of affairs, Coto-Navarro’s husband had been at work when the alleged homicide occurred, however discovered Portillo’s physique when he got here dwelling. He arrived about 20 minutes earlier than police, in keeping with WABC.

He was additionally reportedly hesitant at first to permit police inside, however lastly informed them the place the physique was. Legislation enforcement sources informed the outlet they don’t count on the husband will face any costs.

After lastly making their method into the suspect’s condominium, police in the end discovered Portillo’s physique wrapped in rubbish luggage and stuffed below a mattress.

Officers reported a “sturdy odor of bleach and noticed a mop and what gave the impression to be blood close to the underside of the mattress and by a dresser within the bed room,” in keeping with the district lawyer’s workplace assertion.

Investigators decided that the sufferer suffered a number of blunt power accidents to his head, which they imagine was attributable to a pipe, per amNY. They DA mentioned that Coto-Navarro additionally put a bag over his head, with all of this in the end inflicting his demise. The DA’s workplace additionally famous the sufferer suffered sharp power accidents to his neck and leg after demise.

“As alleged, the defendant not solely murdered the superintendent making an attempt to gather hire, however tried to dismember the lifeless sufferer, wrapped his physique in black rubbish luggage and tried bleaching the realm,” mentioned Kats within the press launch.

“Now, a life has been misplaced and a household is in upheaval as a result of the defendant allegedly selected to resolve a hire dispute with violence,” she continued. “This isn’t the best way a civilized society operates. The defendant will face justice for this heinous homicide.”

Within the days after his surprising demise, a GoFundMe has been set as much as assist pay for the funeral bills for Portillo, and extra particulars about his life have emerged.

“Recognized all through his neighborhood for his unbelievable work ethic, he by no means hesitated to assist others in want,” mentioned the GoFundMe’s creator, Julissa Gomez. “His biggest pleasure in life was caring for his household, and his loss leaves an irreplaceable void in all our lives.”

Gomez’s GoFundMe, which she arrange on behalf of Portillo’s spouse Rene, has raised greater than $16,000 towards its $18,000 objective. “Each contribution, regardless of the dimensions, will assist ease the monetary burden on his household, permitting them to deal with therapeutic and remembering the fantastic man everybody all cherished,” she wrote.

On the day of her arraignment, Portillo’s grieving spouse confronted her husband’s suspected killer, Coto-Navarro, as she was being led out of the precinct stationhouse to go the courthouse, per amNY.

“You killed my husband!” she shouted in Spanish on the girl as police escorted her to a ready police automobile.

Neighbors of Coto-Navarro expressed shock over Portillo’s demise and her alleged involvement, with one telling WABC, “She was all the time candy actually. She was very, very candy. I am just a bit shocked by this entire factor.”

Folks within the condominium constructing mentioned that Portillo had began working there as a gardener earlier than transferring as much as the superintendent place. They described him as pleasant and fascinating