- 7 hours ago
Buried in the Backyard S06E07 Portrait of a Tragedy
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00:07she was a very good artist her apartment was very clean but there was a broken wine glass on the
00:17floor this girl fought for her life there was blood in the tub blood in the sink
00:30the suspect was known to the victim or was let in willingly
00:37we looked at the surveillance images they were dressed head to toe in black
00:45she was on different dating apps on social media he's with us he's looking he's showing real
00:53emotions but he was the last person that saw her smartphones have a treasure trove of information
01:01people do things on their smartphones that they will not confess to their parish priest
01:08the police were able to follow this vehicle using surveillance cameras her friend said in her
01:17apartment over her bed did you see the portrait that's him he's the guy he did it
01:44greenwich connecticut beverly hills of the east coast
01:49it is the best of the best beautiful homes right on the water a wealthy enclave a lot of celebrities
01:58and heads of corporations yacht clubs golf clubs large mansions on 10 acre plots
02:06Greenwich is the home to the Rockefellers homicides are very rare that kind of thing usually doesn't happen
02:17on the morning of February 5th 2019 shortly after 8 a.m workers riding in the department of public
02:26works truck noticed a red suitcase discarded on the side of the road in the backyard of a wealthy estate
02:32they pull over grab the handle of the suitcase it was very heavy this guy believed that something
02:41good in it and decided to open it a few minutes later they call 9-1-1
02:55everyone went lights and sirens to the scene myself and the detective lieutenant responded to the area
03:05we blocked the road for a good five miles in each direction there were news helicopters overhead filming
03:16everybody knew something bad had just occurred
03:24the area was off to the side of the road and backyard of a very wealthy mansion
03:31there were small trees and branches camouflaging the discovery of the suitcase itself
03:38when we approach the suitcase
03:42we see the body of a lifeless girl
03:47the victim was frozen
03:51she was folded up into a fetal position
03:57her hands behind her back hogtied with twine
04:05in my 20 years
04:07to have the body of a young female stuffed into a suitcase
04:14it's pretty shocking
04:18ice crystals and ice around the nose and the mouth
04:22that indicated she was breathing when she was inside that suitcase
04:27there was trauma around her head area and her cheeks
04:32a contusion on her forehead
04:35it looked like a golf ball
04:37she also had abrasions on her hands
04:40broken fingernails
04:42she had a t-shirt on
04:43it said
04:44amir la vie
04:46love of life
04:50she took a beating
04:52and this girl fought for her life
04:54this was a beautiful young lady
04:59you could see
05:00somebody loved this girl
05:03she was someone's daughter
05:06where did she come from
05:08who did this
05:28new rochelle
05:29it's a small town
05:33full of parks
05:34beautiful town to live in
05:36means everything to me
05:44we're not a big family
05:46it was my four kids and I
05:49my two older ones
05:53Valerie and Sal
05:55I was 21 when I had Belle
06:00I didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl
06:02I just felt like my baby
06:05had to be a Valerie
06:07it fit her perfect
06:10it means valor
06:12valuable
06:13she became my best friend
06:15as a newborn
06:20my son Sal
06:22is just a year and a few months
06:24younger than her
06:26she was 14 months older
06:28we had a lot of fun growing up
06:30she was the bossy one
06:32I kind of just did whatever she said
06:37Val
06:39had that maternal instinct with him
06:42you know always taking care of him and guiding him
06:50divorce is hard on kids
06:53when her dad moved out of the house
06:55Val was like around 10
06:57she was very devastated
07:00our dad was always in our life
07:02we have a great relationship with him
07:03but not having a father in a household
07:05is different than having a father
07:08she loved her dad
07:10before the separation
07:12Val didn't even know what depression was
07:15never showed any signs of
07:17unhappiness
07:18it was hard for her
07:19but she just went through panic attacks
07:22through depression
07:23but she really wanted to be happy
07:26that's why I always say she was a warrior
07:31she had that artistic soul
07:35that ability to paint and create
07:39like I was just always so infatuated with drawing
07:42Val just loved drawing too
07:44she was just very talented
07:46like very talented
07:49she worked hard Monday through Friday
07:51even Saturdays
07:52but Sundays are a family day
07:56it was simple things
07:58going to the park
08:00to the movies
08:02I felt always blessed
08:06she mentioned she wanted to move out
08:13it was a little crappy tiny apartment
08:15but she just made it so her
08:17I would just sometimes go there
08:19and just hang out
08:19she was like one of the few people
08:21that I just loved doing that with
08:24I remember her calling
08:26she had broken up with John
08:28her boyfriend
08:29they had been together a few months
08:31she was in love with him
08:33but she felt like it was going too quick
08:36and she was a little bit you know nervous
08:38because he wasn't staying over anymore
08:40she's alone in her apartment
08:44she tells me
08:45I'm having panic attacks
08:46I'm feeling very very scared
08:50I'm confused
08:51I'm like okay
08:52I know she broke up with John
08:53but what is actually going on
08:57and I said
08:58mommy just come and spend the night
09:00and she refused
09:02then I said everything's going to be okay
09:04if you need me
09:06you know you can call me
09:15the following day
09:16I called her at 8 in the morning
09:18and she didn't pick up
09:20and I called her at 10
09:21nothing
09:24and I did kind of get that little feeling
09:28why isn't she picking up
09:30why isn't she calling me back
09:31I remember calling Sal
09:34and Sal went to get his dad
09:39I wasn't worried
09:40I was just thinking
09:41this typical mom stuff
09:42but after a while
09:44it was obviously starting to get weird
09:46couldn't get in touch with her
09:48they went to her apartment
09:51they met John
09:52her ex-boyfriend
09:54he was heading over there
09:56to apologize to Val
09:57your sister's missing
09:59here comes her boyfriend with flowers
10:03they called me
10:04they're like she's not here
10:06Sal tells me
10:08there's glass on the floor
10:09and the only thing that are missing
10:12are bed sheets
10:14you don't want to think
10:16the worst
10:19it's like what's going on with my daughter
10:20like what's happening
10:24that night was probably one of the worst nights
10:26was the not knowing
10:28I slept in her basement
10:30you know if she got home
10:31I wanted to be like the first one
10:32to see her
10:36the very next day
10:37we went to her job
10:39she wasn't there
10:42panic started to ensue
10:46her ex-boyfriend
10:47was able to log in to her email
10:50there was activity from Chase
10:52we're like okay
10:53so she's alive
10:55it was weird
10:56we don't know where she is
10:58you just broke up
10:59in the back of her mind
11:01it's like
11:01could you have anything to do with it
11:07we decided to go to the police
11:09and make a report
11:13we told them
11:14she has been hospitalized
11:16for her mental health
11:17teenage years
11:18they took it very serious
11:20my family started with the posters
11:22they went around New Rochelle
11:24the train station
11:27I posted on Instagram
11:29they got a lot of attention
11:30thousands of shares
11:31I was just thinking
11:32why are you doing this Val?
11:34you guys worried
11:36we started calling hospitals
11:38we thought she was getting mental health for herself
11:41they wouldn't give answers
11:43because it's private
11:46I was nervous
11:47I was scared
11:48she's gone through depression
11:50and there's a breakup
11:52because it's too much for her
11:55because she have taken her own life
12:01he and Valerie had argued the day before she went missing
12:05we see glowing areas of blood on the wall
12:09and a few drops on the mattress
12:12something had happened to
12:15Vaur here
12:35January 30th, 2019
12:38Valerie Reyes had not returned home
12:43the Reyes family became concerned
12:47they contacted the Neurochelle Police Department
12:50and reported her missing
12:52her mother related that
12:55Valerie had issues with anxiety
12:58they were concerned
13:00she could have harmed herself
13:05I called hospitals
13:07they wouldn't give any answers
13:09because it's private
13:12the family had started
13:14to gather telephone information
13:16cell phone data
13:17on Valerie
13:18as well as banking records
13:23police detectives
13:25began doing traces
13:26on her banking information
13:29they saw someone
13:31that drained her bank account
13:32of several thousand dollars
13:35something was very suspicious
13:42detectives
13:43detectives request banking information
13:44from all of the withdrawal points
13:46and the ATM locations
13:47we then start to interview
13:50people closest to her
13:55John told the investigators
13:59he and Valerie had argued
14:01the day before she went missing
14:03he was upset
14:05that she was seeking
14:06more freedom
14:07in their relationship
14:08he did not want that
14:10he said he had actually left
14:12a bouquet of flowers
14:14at her door
14:15he also had passwords
14:18for Valerie's banking information
14:21when he's released
14:22all of this was looking
14:24very suspicious
14:25to the investigators
14:28every single day
14:29I would message her
14:34please come back
14:38you mean everything to me
14:46February 5th 2019
14:48six days after Valerie's
14:52disappearance
14:54a Greenwich
14:56Connecticut road crew
14:57was doing a clean up
15:00on Glenville Road
15:03I was notified
15:05by my detective lieutenant
15:06that there was a body
15:08in a suitcase
15:18as we approached the scene
15:20I looked down
15:22the embankment
15:23I could see
15:24the suitcase
15:26we approached
15:28and see the victim
15:34she was a young
15:3520 year old female
15:37medium length
15:39black hair
15:40several tattoos
15:42she was taped
15:44with this packing tape
15:46from her chin
15:48up to the top
15:49of her nose
15:50and wrapped
15:51multiple times
15:52the days leading up
15:55to the discovery
15:55of the body
15:56had been frigid
15:58we had several days
15:59of single digit temperatures
16:01the body was literally
16:02frozen
16:04the medical examiner
16:06arrived at 11am
16:09we removed
16:11the victim
16:11from the suitcase
16:12and examined
16:13the body
16:15she had ice crystals
16:17about her face
16:19and neck
16:20and her bare feet
16:23we noticed her hands
16:25had some minor abrasions
16:26on them
16:26a fingernail
16:28broken
16:28on one of the hands
16:30this girl fought
16:32for her life
16:39we had received
16:40information
16:41on the
16:43Greenwich Police Department
16:44a social media account
16:45that indicated
16:47there was a missing
16:49female
16:49from Nerschel
16:51New York
16:52named Valerie Reyes
16:54Valerie Reyes
16:57appeared to have
16:58similar physical
16:59descriptions
17:00and several
17:02similar tattoos
17:03at the medical
17:06examiner's office
17:07we obtained
17:08very clear
17:10identifiable
17:12photos
17:12of numerous
17:14tattoos
17:15that the female
17:16had on her body
17:19then
17:19we asked
17:20to meet
17:21with the family
17:24that night
17:25I get a call
17:26they were telling me
17:28they found a body
17:30when me and my dad
17:32get to city hall
17:33they bring us
17:34into the room
17:34and separate us
17:37they showed me
17:38a picture of her arm
17:39of her tattoo
17:40it was our last name
17:43that's when I knew
17:45he immediately
17:46burst out
17:47and the tears
17:49screaming
17:50punching walls
17:51saying
17:51that's my sister
17:52that's my sister
17:53it was terrible
17:56it was just
17:57the worst day
17:58of my life
18:00I am shattered
18:04it's like my entire
18:06soul just
18:07been numb
18:10we now know
18:12who this female
18:13was
18:15now we can
18:16center all of our
18:17investigative
18:18machine
18:20into solving this
18:22who had access
18:23to her
18:24where did this occur
18:28Valerie's family
18:30led us
18:30into the apartment
18:34left at the door
18:35was a large
18:37garbage bag
18:39that was filled
18:40with all of her
18:41ex-boyfriend
18:42John's clothes
18:44her laptop
18:46and cell phone
18:47were also missing
18:50the family
18:51had also indicated
18:52there was a broken
18:53wine glass
18:54on the floor
18:55which her father
18:56had cleaned up
18:59as we
19:00looked further
19:01within her apartment
19:03one of our officers
19:05observed
19:06a small drop
19:07of blood
19:08on a wall
19:09and another drop
19:11of blood
19:11on the comforter
19:14something had
19:15happened to
19:16Valerie here
19:17this was a crime scene
19:36on February 5th
19:382019
19:39road workers
19:41found a suitcase
19:42buried in a wooded
19:43backyard
19:46folded up
19:47into a fetal
19:48position
19:49inside this
19:50red suitcase
19:51was Valerie Reyes
19:52a young
19:54female
19:54missing from
19:55Nerschelle, New York
20:01our team
20:02of investigators
20:04go through
20:05that apartment
20:05with a fine-tooth comb
20:07we had photos
20:09of every inch
20:10of that apartment
20:12we then decided
20:14to search
20:14using luminol
20:19when we apply
20:20the luminol
20:21we see glowing
20:22areas of blood
20:23on the wall
20:27there was a lot
20:29of blood
20:29in the tub
20:30blood in the sink
20:33so much
20:34that you could
20:34clearly make out
20:35a handprint
20:39the areas that reacted
20:41with the luminol
20:42were collected
20:43to determine
20:44whose blood it was
20:47there were no signs
20:49that there was
20:50any forced entry
20:51the suspect was
20:53either known to Valerie
20:54or was let in
20:56willingly
20:57so Greenwich
20:58detectives zero in
21:00on Valerie Reyes'
21:01ex-boyfriend
21:02John
21:04John indicated
21:05that he and Valerie
21:07had argued
21:08the day before
21:08she went missing
21:10he had packed up
21:12all his belongings
21:13in a garbage bag
21:14she was done
21:15with him
21:17another red flag
21:18was that he knew
21:19Valerie's login
21:20for her banking
21:21information
21:22as well as
21:23several other
21:24social media apps
21:25reviewing some
21:27of Valerie's
21:27social media
21:28we learned
21:28Valerie had actually
21:30blocked John
21:30from contacting her
21:34this immediately
21:35piqued our interest
21:36we have an ex-boyfriend
21:38who does not take
21:39rejection well
21:41is trying to get back
21:42with Valerie
21:43leaving her flowers
21:48we asked him
21:49to provide
21:49his cell phone records
21:51and give us access
21:52to his cell phone
21:54we also asked him
21:56for his DNA
21:57and fingerprints
21:58immediately
21:58for comparison
22:01we had to look further
22:02into all of these details
22:03to either
22:04include him
22:05as a person of interest
22:06or try to eliminate him
22:08as a suspect
22:13we went to her job
22:16obtaining video footage
22:17of when she left work
22:19on January 28th
22:22and took a bus
22:24back home
22:25to Nourish El
22:26we checked that
22:27to see if there's
22:29anyone she came across
22:30that seemed suspicious
22:32or out of the ordinary
22:34there's nothing
22:40we start questioning
22:42her friends and family
22:43about her dating history
22:45we interviewed her mother
22:48who else is a suspect
22:50honestly
22:51John
22:52yes
22:53right away
22:54right
22:54you think
22:55because that's
22:55the person that
22:57had that romantic
22:58relationship with my daughter
22:59and
23:00but he's with us
23:02he's looking
23:02he's showing real emotions
23:06Valerie's mother
23:08gave us
23:08access to Valerie's
23:09cell phone account
23:10smartphones have
23:11a treasure trove
23:13of information
23:14people
23:14will do things
23:15on their smartphones
23:16that they will not
23:17confess to their
23:18parish priest
23:19then
23:21we reached out
23:21to one of Valerie's
23:23friends
23:23named Naomi
23:24she knew
23:25pretty much
23:26all of Valerie's life
23:28Naomi
23:28gave us
23:29a list
23:30of people
23:31that Valerie
23:32had dated
23:33at the time
23:34there was
23:35a guy named
23:36Joe
23:36who was a mechanic
23:38and there was
23:39a guy named
23:40Javier
23:42she was dating
23:43different dating apps
23:45and social media
23:46she was very social
23:49this really
23:50expanded
23:51the
23:51number of suspects
23:53that could be
23:55her killer
23:56at this point
23:57all options
23:58are on the table
24:02looking at Valerie's
24:03phone information
24:04we saw that
24:05on January 29th
24:07her phone
24:08was put into
24:08airplane mode
24:09at around 3 o'clock
24:10in the morning
24:12afterwards
24:13we see that
24:14there were
24:14several withdrawals
24:16of Valerie's money
24:17from her bank accounts
24:19at this point
24:20it became even more
24:21important to find out
24:22through bank surveillance
24:23video
24:24who was making
24:25those withdrawals
24:27was it Valerie
24:28or was it
24:30someone else
24:35Neurochelle
24:35Police Department
24:36obtained
24:37bank surveillance
24:39images
24:39as we
24:41looked further
24:43that the
24:44surveillance
24:44images
24:45something was
24:46wrong
24:46they were
24:48dressed
24:48head to toe
24:49in black clothing
24:51and covering
24:51their face
24:54appeared to be
24:55a male
24:55that was
24:56withdrawing
24:56the money
24:58that was not
24:59Valerie Reyes
25:00taking that money
25:01out
25:01this guy
25:02may be involved
25:03in killing
25:04Valerie
25:08the FBI
25:09gets involved
25:10she was abducted
25:11kidnapped
25:12and moved
25:13out of state
25:16we knew that
25:17he flew the country
25:18and we wouldn't
25:18get our hands
25:19on him
25:35the investigation
25:36at this point
25:37is zeroing in
25:38on this unknown
25:39male making
25:39ATM withdrawals
25:40from Valerie
25:41Reyes
25:42bank account
25:45the initial
25:46withdrawal
25:47was from
25:47the Nershell
25:48bank
25:49about January
25:4929th
25:50about 5am
25:51in the morning
25:52the guy
25:53enters the bank
25:54disguising his face
25:55he makes the withdrawal
25:57from the bank
25:58he then exits
25:59into a small
26:01black SUV
26:02the Nershell
26:04police department
26:05were able to
26:06follow this vehicle
26:07using surveillance
26:09cameras
26:09they were able
26:11to get
26:12a license plate
26:14off the license plate
26:15reader
26:16within the city
26:18this is a huge
26:19moment in the investigation
26:22the registration
26:23information
26:24returned to a car
26:25sharing app
26:26it was a black
26:27CRV
26:27it was a zip
26:28rental car
26:29out of
26:30Queens
26:30New York City
26:32we then serve
26:34the rental company
26:35with a subpoena
26:36to get the rental
26:37information
26:37a short time later
26:39we obtained
26:40the DNA results
26:41from the Westchester
26:42County
26:42forensic lab
26:45the DNA results
26:47that were sampled
26:48from the bathroom area
26:49indicated a mixture
26:50between Valerie
26:51and an unknown
26:52contributor
26:55this eliminates
26:56the ex-boyfriend
26:57John
26:58as a suspect
26:59this leads to
27:00further questions
27:01as to the identity
27:02of this unknown male
27:04we now focus
27:06solely on
27:07who's driving
27:08the vehicle
27:09we obtain
27:10the rental information
27:11for the Honda CRV
27:12and learn that
27:13the name of the renter
27:14is named Marco
27:17we run license
27:18information for Marco
27:19his general
27:21physical characteristics
27:22are consistent
27:23with the unknown man
27:24making the withdrawals
27:26on Valerie's
27:27ATM bank account
27:28finding Marco
27:30was top of the list
27:32to do
27:34we learned
27:35from the rental car
27:36agency
27:37that the exact times
27:39that this rental car
27:40was rented out
27:42matched
27:43the exact times
27:44that Valerie
27:45went missing
27:47but then
27:48we obtained
27:49the entire
27:50rental information
27:54his rental agreement
27:56listed names
27:57of other drivers
27:59we began
28:00to scour
28:00through that information
28:01we saw
28:03the name
28:03of Javier
28:08that immediately
28:09clicked in my mind
28:11as a person
28:12that Valerie
28:12had dated
28:13before
28:15I reached back out
28:17to her friend
28:18Naomi
28:19she said
28:20Valerie broke it off
28:21with Javier
28:22about a year earlier
28:26that made him
28:27very upset
28:28to the point
28:28where Valerie
28:29had to block him
28:30on her phone
28:31so that he couldn't
28:32contact her
28:33I felt he was the guy
28:35at that moment
28:36and told her
28:37we needed a photo
28:39of Javier
28:40to confirm it
28:43Naomi had asked me
28:45if I had been
28:45if I had been
28:45in her apartment
28:46I said yes
28:48she said well
28:49over her bed
28:50did you see
28:51the portrait
28:52that she drew
28:53of me
28:54I said yes
28:55she said well
28:56beneath that
28:57was a portrait
28:58of Javier
28:59that Valerie
29:00had drawn
29:01Naomi then
29:03took the further
29:03step
29:04of finding
29:05Javier
29:06on his social
29:08media account
29:09and I immediately
29:10recognized
29:11the profile picture
29:12being the same
29:12sketch that I
29:13had seen
29:14when I was
29:14processing
29:15Valerie's apartment
29:18that was an
29:19amazing moment
29:22that's him
29:23he's the guy
29:24he did it
29:28Javier
29:28who Valerie
29:30had dated
29:31was the same
29:32Javier
29:33listed on
29:33the rental agreement
29:37after reviewing
29:39a background
29:40investigation
29:40on Javier
29:42da Silva
29:43we learned
29:44Javier
29:44was a
29:46Venezuelan
29:47nationality
29:48he had come
29:49into the United
29:49States
29:50on a student
29:51visa
29:52which he had
29:53overstayed
29:53there was
29:54currently a
29:55deportation order
29:56for him
30:01we obtained
30:03the surveillance
30:04video from
30:04that rental
30:05location
30:07we were able
30:08to see
30:09the unknown
30:10male
30:10from the
30:11ATM withdrawals
30:12without his
30:13face covered
30:13that photo
30:14was Javier
30:15da Silva
30:16we had to
30:21make sure
30:22that the
30:22timeline
30:23matched up
30:24100%
30:26there was a
30:28big disagreement
30:28about going
30:30and interviewing
30:31Marco Padro
30:34the decision
30:35was made
30:36to go
30:37and arrest
30:38Javier
30:38on the
30:39deportation
30:40charges
30:40and interview
30:43Marco Padro
30:44after Javier's
30:45arrest
30:48we immediately
30:49sent a surveillance
30:50team down
30:51to the
30:52apartment
30:52building
30:53that was
30:54listed on
30:55the rental
30:55car agreement
30:56there was
30:58a big concern
30:59we could
31:00spook
31:00Javier
31:01da Silva
31:02into running
31:03but I was
31:04very nervous
31:05he knows
31:07he's in
31:07overstay
31:08already
31:08we knew
31:09he would
31:09flee the
31:10country
31:10and we
31:10wouldn't
31:11get our
31:11hands
31:11on
31:11him
31:27detectives
31:28identified
31:28a man
31:29who may
31:29believe
31:30abducted
31:31and
31:31brutally
31:32murdered
31:32Valerie
31:33Reyes
31:34a young
31:34outgoing
31:35girl
31:36found in
31:36Connecticut
31:37tied up
31:37in a
31:38suitcase
31:43the FBI
31:44gets involved
31:45because we
31:45believe
31:46she was
31:46abducted
31:47kidnapped
31:47and moved
31:49out of state
31:50and we had
31:51a concern
31:52the suspect
31:53Javier
31:53da Silva
31:54Rojas
31:54the Venezuelan
31:55nationals
31:55at risk
31:56for fleeing
31:56the country
31:58the vehicle
32:00that Javier
32:00da Silva
32:01rented
32:01was identified
32:04now we have
32:05to find
32:05this guy
32:08using the
32:09rental records
32:10we were able
32:10to track
32:11Javier
32:12da Silva
32:12Rojas
32:13to the
32:13location
32:13of Queens
32:14New York
32:18there was
32:19probably
32:19six
32:20buildings
32:21that
32:22housed
32:23five
32:24to six
32:24hundred
32:25apartments
32:25in each
32:27it was a
32:28big undertaking
32:30we had
32:31to put
32:32eyes on
32:32him
32:33at that
32:33building
32:37February
32:3811th
32:40of
32:402019
32:41late at
32:42night
32:42my
32:43surveillance
32:43team
32:44observed
32:45Javier
32:45doing
32:46laundry
32:46in
32:47the
32:48laundromat
32:49the
32:51officers
32:51ran over
32:52to grab
32:52him
32:53Javier
32:55was arrested
32:56on the
32:57varsity
32:58and
32:58deportation
32:59order
33:03he was
33:04brought back
33:05to the
33:05Nerschel
33:06police
33:06department
33:07where he
33:07was placed
33:08in a
33:09interview
33:09room
33:10Marco
33:11was
33:12interviewed
33:12after
33:14Javier's
33:14arrest
33:15it turned
33:16out that
33:17Marco
33:18worked as
33:19a security
33:20guard
33:20in the
33:21building
33:22we learned
33:23he would
33:24rent out
33:25these
33:25zip
33:26cars
33:26to
33:27other
33:28tenants
33:28of the
33:29building
33:29under his
33:30name
33:31and that
33:32was
33:32his only
33:33involvement
33:34at that
33:35point
33:35we were
33:36able to
33:36eliminate
33:37Marco
33:37from the
33:38investigation
33:40we do a
33:40search warrant
33:41on heavy
33:41arts department
33:42and we were
33:43able to get
33:43his phone
33:44we do a
33:44search warrant
33:45on his
33:45phone
33:47during the
33:48search they
33:48actually found
33:49Valerie's
33:50identification
33:51and credit
33:52card in
33:53his apartment
33:56we interviewed
33:58Javier on
33:59February 12th
34:00and he
34:01stated that
34:02he had
34:03found a
34:04card
34:04on the
34:05sidewalk
34:06in New York
34:07City
34:09he had also
34:13found a
34:14PIN number
34:15and that
34:16he did
34:16withdraw
34:17money from
34:17that bank
34:18account
34:19the
34:23investigators
34:24showed
34:25Javier
34:26the name
34:26to that
34:27bank
34:28count
34:28was
34:28Valerie
34:29Reyes
34:29they asked
34:30him if
34:30he knew
34:31her
34:33he said
34:34no
34:34we knew
34:35he was
34:35lying
34:36we had
34:37that picture
34:37of Javier
34:38that Valerie
34:39had drawn
34:41of him
34:41the investigators
34:43told Javier
34:45that
34:45yes
34:46you did
34:47know her
34:47matter of
34:48fact
34:48you had
34:49dated
34:49her
34:50and we
34:50know that
34:52well then
34:53they show
34:53the photo
34:54of Valerie
34:55when she
34:55was found
35:00at that
35:01at that point
35:01he backtracks
35:02and he
35:03started
35:03minimizing
35:03like
35:04like
35:04most
35:04people
35:05in that
35:05position
35:05would do
35:11he stated
35:12that
35:13they had
35:13consensual
35:14sex
35:15and she
35:16had
35:16and hit
35:17her head
35:21quiet
35:22as she
35:23was
35:23unconscious
35:24he said
35:24he checked
35:25her for
35:25breath
35:25she wasn't
35:26breathing
35:28at that point
35:29he saw
35:30a red
35:31suitcase
35:31outside
35:32grabbed
35:32the suitcase
35:33brought it
35:34in
35:34tied up
35:35Valerie
35:36and taped
35:37her
35:41and placed
35:42her
35:42into the
35:43suitcase
35:46we don't
35:48believe
35:49when he
35:49says that
35:50they had
35:50consensual
35:51sex
35:55and that
35:56she fell
35:57and hit
35:57her head
35:58she had
35:59large
35:59hematoma
36:00to the
36:01forehead
36:01multiple
36:02cuts
36:03at her
36:03hands
36:04she fought
36:05for her
36:05life
36:05if he
36:07thought
36:07she was
36:08dead
36:09you don't
36:10have to
36:10tape her
36:11mouth
36:11he taped
36:12her from
36:13her chin
36:13to the
36:14top of
36:14her nose
36:15with
36:16packing
36:16tape
36:17if she's
36:18unconscious
36:19knocked out
36:20or dead
36:20you don't
36:21have to
36:21do
36:22that
36:24I'm
36:25certain
36:25that
36:26this
36:26is
36:26a
36:26murder
36:26but
36:27in order
36:28to
36:28prove
36:28the
36:28federal
36:29crime
36:29of
36:30kidnapping
36:30we still
36:31had to
36:31establish
36:31that
36:32she
36:32was
36:32moved
36:33out
36:33of
36:33state
36:33and
36:34alive
36:34in
36:35New York
36:35and had
36:37died
36:37in the
36:38state
36:38of
36:38Connecticut
36:38ultimate
36:39penalty
36:40for this
36:40in the
36:41statute
36:41is
36:42the
36:42death
36:43penalty
36:43we
36:44needed
36:44proof
36:44beyond
36:45reasonable
36:45doubt
36:46what he
36:46did
36:46in order
36:47to
36:47put
36:47him
36:47away
37:04prime
37:05suspect
37:05Javier
37:06De Silva
37:06Rojas
37:07attempted
37:07to tell
37:08investigators
37:08that
37:09Valerie
37:09Reyes
37:10death
37:10was an
37:11accident
37:14but the
37:15evidence
37:15photos
37:15don't
37:16lie
37:16he
37:16beat
37:17her
37:17bound
37:17her
37:17stuffed
37:18her
37:18in
37:18a
37:18suitcase
37:22federal
37:23murder
37:23charges
37:24are hard
37:24to come
37:24by
37:25in order
37:26to make
37:26it a
37:27federal
37:27kidnapping
37:28resulting
37:29in a
37:29murder
37:29case
37:29we need
37:30to now
37:31prove
37:31that he
37:31took her
37:32across
37:32state
37:33lines
37:33so we
37:34had to
37:34establish
37:34that
37:35she
37:35was
37:35alive
37:36in
37:36New York
37:38and had
37:39died
37:39in the
37:40state
37:40of
37:40Connecticut
37:48Key
37:48evidence
37:49in this
37:49case
37:50might
37:50be
37:51the
37:51autopsy
37:53we
37:54have
37:54to
37:54go
37:54examine
37:55the
37:55body
37:56on
37:57the
37:57day
37:58that
37:58she
37:58was
37:58found
37:59it
37:59was
38:00probably
38:00the
38:00coldest
38:01four or
38:01five
38:01days
38:01span
38:04when
38:04we
38:04removed
38:05the
38:05body
38:05there
38:06were
38:06still
38:06ice
38:07crystals
38:07and
38:08ice
38:08formed
38:09around
38:09the nose
38:10and the
38:10mouth
38:11and because
38:12of the
38:13cold weather
38:13they had to
38:14wait for
38:14the body
38:14to thaw
38:16the ME
38:17found
38:17crystallization
38:18in her lungs
38:19she had fluid
38:20in her lungs
38:20that froze
38:22that
38:23indicated
38:24that she was
38:25still alive
38:25when she was
38:26stuffed inside
38:27that suitcase
38:29the ME
38:29determined
38:30she
38:31asphyxiated
38:31unable
38:32to breathe
38:33tied up
38:34in the
38:34suitcase
38:37that
38:37showed
38:38she was
38:38alive
38:39in New York
38:39and died
38:40in the
38:41state
38:41of
38:41Connecticut
38:45all those
38:45little things
38:46were real
38:46important
38:47because
38:47if you
38:47don't
38:47hit
38:47all
38:47those
38:48elements
38:48we
38:49don't
38:49have
38:49a
38:50charge
38:51the
38:52southerners
38:52district
38:52in New York
38:53assigned
38:54an
38:54assistant
38:54United
38:54States
38:55attorney
38:55immediately
38:56to this
38:56case
38:56we sit
38:57down
38:57with
38:58whatever
38:58it's
38:58we have
38:59on the
39:00day of
39:00January
39:0028th
39:012019
39:03Valerie
39:03left
39:04her job
39:04she spoke
39:05with her
39:05mother
39:05she went
39:06to bed
39:08about
39:091030
39:09on the
39:1028th
39:11of January
39:11Herriard
39:12was
39:13caught on
39:13surveillance
39:14camera
39:14leaving the
39:15hallway
39:15of his
39:16apartment
39:18he went
39:19to rent
39:19a car
39:19approximately
39:19five minutes
39:20away
39:25Herriard
39:25then
39:25puts
39:26the
39:26GPS
39:27coordinates
39:28of
39:28New Rochelle
39:29into
39:29his
39:29phone
39:30and
39:31then
39:31he
39:31drove
39:31to
39:32New Rochelle
39:32and
39:33turned
39:33his
39:33phone
39:33off
39:34he
39:35went
39:35up
39:35there
39:35to
39:36try
39:36to
39:36rob
39:37her
39:37he's
39:38like
39:38a
39:38predator
39:38to see
39:39somebody
39:39that's
39:40vulnerable
39:40she had
39:41approximately
39:42$5300
39:43in the
39:44bank
39:47during
39:48that time
39:48a violent
39:49struggle
39:49ensued
39:52Valerie
39:53fought
39:53back
39:55heavy
39:56are
39:56beat
39:57her
39:57which
39:57rendered
39:58her
39:58unconscious
40:01at that
40:02point
40:02heavy
40:03used
40:03her
40:03fingerprint
40:04to
40:04access
40:04her
40:05iPad
40:06he said
40:07I'd tape
40:07her mouth
40:08to stop
40:08her from
40:09screaming
40:09and yelling
40:10out
40:11he put
40:12her in
40:12a suitcase
40:13and he
40:14leaves
40:15the apartment
40:16kidnapping
40:17her
40:17and
40:18then
40:19he
40:19buried
40:20the
40:20suitcase
40:20in
40:21Connecticut
40:23she
40:24was
40:24alive
40:25in
40:25New York
40:26when he
40:26put the
40:27duct tape
40:28around her
40:29mouth
40:29and stuffed
40:30her in
40:30a suitcase
40:32and he
40:33proceeded
40:33over a
40:34five day
40:35period
40:35to do
40:36numerous
40:37ATM withdrawals
40:38and basically
40:39cleaned out
40:39her bank
40:40account
40:40larceny
40:41and greed
40:42was certainly
40:43a primary
40:43motive
40:44his digital
40:45footprint
40:45does place
40:46him in all
40:47parts of
40:47this crime
40:49from the
40:50initial stages
40:50to the
40:51rental of
40:51the car
40:53to where
40:54Valerie was
40:55eventually
40:55found in
40:56Connecticut
41:02we know
41:03Abiyar
41:03De Silva
41:04Rojas
41:04committed
41:05this crime
41:08this case
41:09does not
41:09go to
41:09trial
41:09there's
41:10a plea
41:11agreement
41:12he would
41:13plead guilty
41:13to kidnapping
41:15with
41:16the result
41:16of murder
41:17and be
41:18sentenced
41:18to
41:18360 months
41:2030 years
41:21in prison
41:27she was 24
41:28years old
41:29just starting
41:29her life
41:30I took
41:31it very
41:32personal
41:32we barely
41:34slept
41:35and
41:35we were
41:37going to
41:37solve it
41:38no matter
41:38what
41:38I knew
41:40she was
41:40someone's
41:41loved one
41:42and we
41:43needed to
41:44bring justice
41:45for a
41:45family
41:49there's
41:50moments
41:50where I
41:51just feel
41:52like my
41:52entire soul
41:53is pouring
41:54out
41:54and I
41:55can't stop
41:56I
41:57always say
41:57she's
41:58my star
41:58my
41:59shooting star
42:01I
42:02want people
42:02to remember
42:03that she
42:04was a
42:04resilient
42:04soul
42:06and
42:06no matter
42:08how tough
42:09her life
42:09was
42:10at one
42:10point
42:10she pushed
42:11through
42:13she pushed
42:14through
42:16the
42:16and
42:16the
42:19to
42:31her
42:31she
42:32and
42:33she
42:33and
42:34and
42:34she
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