Cousins arrested in the shooting murder of Edgar Martinez, Hartford, Connecticut teen whose body was found dumped along the highway wrapped in a comforter. ‘Teen who never got in trouble‘ is believed to have been killed over money, according to victim’s family.
The cousins of a Connecticut teenager whose body was found dumped on the side of the highway, ‘wrapped in a comforter’ have been charged with the teen’s murder.
The body of Edgar Josué Chiche Martínez, of Hartford, CT, was found on Saturday, Nov. 9 at around 7:09 a.m. after the Hartford Police Department responded to reports of a body found in the area of 80 Pope Park Highway.
At the time of the discovery Edgar Martinez was days away from celebrating his 19th birthday on Nov. 14 when he was shot dead, his body riddled with ‘multiple gunshots.’
17 year old juvenile suspect to be tried as adult
‘The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions responded and began an investigation. The body was transported to The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, where it was learned that the victim was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds,’ police stated in a release according to People Magazine.
Added authorities, ‘It is believed that the body had been placed on Pope Park Highway approximately 24 hours prior to the discovery. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the incident occurred approximately one day earlier, in an apartment inside 158 Magnolia Street.’
The two suspects, 21-year-old-man, Sender Soto-Veliz, 21 along with a 17 year old un-identified male, were located later that Saturday at 7:35 p.m. driving along Park Terrace, police said in the release.
The victim’s family told NBC Connecticut that the late teenager lived in the Magnolia Street property with his cousins, who have been charged following his death.
Police confirmed Soto-Veliz, 21, has been charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence, while the juvenile male faced charges of murder and tampering with evidence.
Soto-Veliz’s bond was set at $500,000 according to the release. He is suspected of helping the unnamed teenager dispose of the body, cops confirmed. The juvenile is expected to have his case transferred to adult court.
Shooting murder motivated by money?
Police are now continuing to investigate the teen’s murder.
‘We are working on a couple of theories,’ Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert told Fox 61 of a possible motive.
‘The most prominent is there was some sort of disagreement in the apartment that went bad, which turned into a physical altercation, which turned into a homicide.’
Martínez’s family say they believe the murder was motivated by money.
‘What we do want is for earthly justice to be made because God’s justice is on the other side,’ the victim’s aunt, Verónica Imelda Martínez Mayen, told NBC Connecticut on Monday.
‘He stayed away from parties, [he was] very friendly,’ she added, insisting Martínez ‘wasn’t one to get into trouble.’
The victim’s sister, Nimsa Martínez, told the outlet, ‘He was the person who always took care of me, despite him not being OK. I’m going to remember him as the most beautiful person I could’ve ever known.’
Martínez’s parents are in Guatemala. His family in Connecticut hopes to send his body there for burial.
