Sandra Coto-Navarro, 48, had beforehand knowledgeable police that Portillo had entered her residence after which left as soon as extra after she’d paid him $23,000, primarily based on the Queens County District Authorized skilled’s Office in a press launch.

It was solely after the developing’s landlord reviewed the security footage that police realized he in no way left. They then returned to discover a horrifying scene, and the fact.

“This was a grotesque murder,” acknowledged Queens County District Authorized skilled Melinda Katz.

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

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

Portillo had gone to the condominium of Coto-Navarro in an effort to decide on up $24,000 in unpaid once more lease at 8:40 a.m. on January 14, per the press launch. When he didn’t return to work, his coworkers referred to as the police at roughly 5 p.m.

Consistent with amNewYorkMetro sources with speedy knowledge of the situation, Coto-Navarro’s husband had been at work when the alleged murder occurred, nevertheless found Portillo’s physique when he obtained right here residence. He arrived about 20 minutes sooner than police, primarily based on WABC.

He was moreover reportedly hesitant at first to allow police inside, nevertheless lastly knowledgeable them the place the physique was. Laws enforcement sources knowledgeable the outlet they don’t anticipate the husband will face any prices.

After lastly making their technique into the suspect’s condominium, police ultimately found Portillo’s physique wrapped in garbage baggage and stuffed beneath a mattress.

Officers reported a “sturdy odor of bleach and seen a mop and what appeared to be blood near the underside of the mattress and by a dresser inside the mattress room,” primarily based on the district lawyer’s office assertion.

Investigators determined that the sufferer suffered various blunt energy accidents to his head, which they take into account was introduced on by a pipe, per amNY. They DA acknowledged that Coto-Navarro moreover put a bag over his head, with all of this ultimately inflicting his demise. The DA’s office moreover well-known the sufferer suffered sharp energy accidents to his neck and leg after demise.

“As alleged, the defendant not solely murdered the superintendent attempting to collect lease, nevertheless tried to dismember the lifeless sufferer, wrapped his physique in black garbage baggage and tried bleaching the realm,” acknowledged Kats inside the press launch.

“Now, a life has been misplaced and a family is in upheaval because of the defendant allegedly chosen to resolve a lease dispute with violence,” she continued. “This isn’t one of the simplest ways a civilized society operates. The defendant will face justice for this heinous murder.”

Inside the days after his gorgeous demise, a GoFundMe has been set as a lot as help pay for the funeral payments for Portillo, and additional particulars about his life have emerged.

“Acknowledged all by way of his neighborhood for his unimaginable work ethic, he in no way hesitated to help others in need,” acknowledged the GoFundMe’s creator, Julissa Gomez. “His greatest pleasure in life was caring for his family, and his loss leaves an irreplaceable void in all our lives.”

Gomez’s GoFundMe, which she prepare on behalf of Portillo’s partner Rene, has raised higher than $16,000 in the direction of its $18,000 objective. “Every contribution, whatever the dimensions, will help ease the financial burden on his family, allowing them to focus on therapeutic and remembering the incredible man all people all appreciated,” she wrote.

On the day of her arraignment, Portillo’s grieving partner 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 prepared police automotive.

Neighbors of Coto-Navarro expressed shock over Portillo’s demise and her alleged involvement, with one telling WABC, “She was on a regular basis sweet honestly. She was very, very sweet. I’m only a bit shocked by this whole issue.”

People inside the condominium developing acknowledged that Portillo had started working there as a gardener sooner than transferring as a lot because the superintendent place. They described him as nice and engaging