The Queens girl accused of killing her constructing’s superintendent this week used a pipe within the sickening assault – and even tried to dismember the lifeless sufferer earlier than stashing his physique in rubbish luggage beneath a mattress, prosecutors stated.
Sandra Coto-Navarro, 48, was charged with second-degree homicide within the lethal assault on 55-year-old Jose Portillo, who was making an attempt to gather $24,000 in unpaid hire from the lady and her husband, cops and prosecutors stated.
Coto-Navarro – who was house alone within the Kew Gardens unit when she allegedly carried out the homicide – used a pipe within the slaying and claimed that it wouldn’t be a problem as a result of “her fingerprints won’t be on it,” in keeping with cops and a felony grievance.
A physician from town medical expert’s workplace decided that Portillo suffered “multiple blunt force trauma injuries” on his head, and {that a} “heavy object” was used to inflict these accidents, the court docket doc stated.
The sufferer additionally suffered “post-mortem sharp force injuries to his neck and left leg near the knee,” the physician discovered.
Round 8:40 a.m., Portillo had gone contained in the seventieth Avenue house right here Coto-Navarro lived along with her husband to speak in regards to the hire they owed, in keeping with sources and prosecutors.
The proprietor of the property advised investigators he noticed Portillo go into the couple’s house, however by no means noticed him go away, in keeping with the sources.
Portillo’s brother requested a wellness verify when he nonetheless hadn’t emerged, the sources stated.
The primary time an officer responded to the couple’s unit, Coto Navarro allegedly claimed that Portillo was there earlier within the day, that she paid him $23K and he left, in keeping with the grievance.
However surveillance footage debunks that story as a result of it by no means reveals him leaving, the court docket docs say.
When the officer returned, the lady’s husband – who was not charged in connection to the homicide – led them “right to the body,” a police supply stated.
Portillo’s physique was discovered round 5 p.m. tucked underneath the mattress, wrapped in clothes and black rubbish luggage, in keeping with the grievance.
He was pronounced useless on the scene by EMS staff.
The house smelled strongly of bleach and a mop may very well be seen within the bed room, with some blood on the backside of the mattress and close to a dresser marring the house’s spotless look, the court docket doc stated.
“This was a gruesome murder,” Queens District Legal professional Melinda Katz stated in an announcement. “As alleged, the defendant not only murdered the superintendent trying to collect rent, but attempted to dismember the lifeless victim, wrapped his body in black garbage bags and tried bleaching the area.”
“Now, a life has been lost and a family is in upheaval because the defendant allegedly chose to resolve a rent dispute with violence,” Katz added. “This is not the way a civilized society operates. The defendant will face justice for this heinous murder.”
Coto-Navarro, who was additionally charged with tampering with bodily proof and felony possession of a weapon, was ordered held with out bail throughout her early Friday arraignment.
She may face 25 years to life behind bars if convicted.
“It’s crazy,” a lady who recognized herself because the sufferer’s ex-wife advised The Put up Thursday outdoors the house constructing. “I want to see her. The one who hit him. The one who killed him. I want to see her.”
Allison Atlas, 31, who lives subsequent door and works as a psychologist, stated neighbors are “all completely taken aback” by the homicide.
“None of us can believe this,” Atlas stated. “We all cared about him, we all liked him! He was a nice guy, a really nice guy. If I ever even mentioned anything, he was so thoughtful and helpful.”
