A Florida man was arrested and charged with homicide within the dying of his girlfriend after allegedly suggesting to police that she had killed herself.
Joel Bauza, 50, was taken into custody Thursday on one cost of first-degree murder within the killing of 49-year-old Joysee Cartagena, Sanford police said in an announcement.
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In accordance with the assertion, police acquired a name on July 17 from an individual reporting that they’d found Cartagena lifeless inside the house.
When Sanford Hearth and Rescue personnel arrived, they discovered Cartagena with a big zip tie round her neck and tried to lifesaving measures, however she was pronounced lifeless on the scene, police stated.
Police Chief Cecil Smith stated Bauza tried to push authorities towards a suicide investigation. However by July 31, they had been already wanting on the dying as a doable murder.
“By means of the good work of the Lake County Medical Examiner’s Workplace and our Main Crimes Investigators, it was clear that Joysee didn’t take her personal life,” Smith stated within the police assertion.
An post-mortem concluded that Cartagena’s reason behind dying was guide strangulation.
“She was a radiant lady who made a constructive affect on so many lives on this group,” Smith added. “We’re saddened that Bauza’s actions took her from family members so prematurely.”
Bauza appeared in courtroom Friday, and it was not instantly clear if he had an lawyer.
On Fb, Bauza’s account recommended that he was married to Cartagena, and it featured many photographs of the 2 going again to 2016.
Those that had been near Cartagena reacted to the information of Bauza’s arrest on-line, saying that they hoped she would lastly obtain justice.
“Not solely did you kill her with your individual fingers you desecrated her beautiful physique and put a disgusting factor round her to make it seem like she did this to herself,” one particular person wrote. “You thought you was gonna get away with this however WE WERE ONTO TO YOU FROM THE START!”
Cartagena’s obituary described her as a “shine of sunshine” who can be remembered for her kindness.
“She was additionally a tremendous mom who at all times put the wants of her son first,” the obituary learn. “She protected him fiercely from the unfavourable issues in life and made positive he knew each single day how a lot she beloved him.”
The son, Steven Rivera Cartagena, beforehand advised NBC affiliate WESH that his mother sought to assist others in her work at Seminole County Public Faculties and JetBlue.
“My mom is my solely rapid household that’s right here in Florida, so listening to the information that she handed away, I felt like an orphan,” Rivera Cartagena advised the outlet.
“She was my world. I imply, that’s all I knew,” he added.
Cartagena’s son advised WESH that he’ll proceed to pursue his dream of changing into a health care provider in reminiscence of his mom; a GoFundMe marketing campaign has been set as much as assist together with his faculty tuition following her dying.
In case you or somebody you understand wants assist, name or textual content 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for psychological well being help. Moreover, yow will discover native psychological well being and disaster assets at dontcallthepolice.com. Outdoors of the U.S., please go to the Worldwide Affiliation for Suicide Prevention.