Greenwich

Medical Examiner Releases Cause of Death of Woman Found Bound in Suitcase in Greenwich

A young woman who was found dead, bound in a suitcase on a street in Greenwich in February, died of “homicidal asphyxia,” according to the office of the chief medical examiner.

Valerie Reyes, 24, of New Rochelle, New York, was reported missing on Jan. 30, a day after she had last been seen. Her body was found in a full-size suitcase off a road in Greenwich nearly a full week later.

Police arrested Reyes’ ex-boyfriend, Javier Da Silva, at his home in Flushing, Queens, after he used her ATM card, authorities said. According to sources, Da Silva, a citizen of Portugal, overstayed his visa waiver. He was supposed to be out of the country in 2017.

A federal criminal complaint revealed disturbing details about how Reyes' body was found; she was barefoot, with an unbuttoned shirt and jeans and bound at the feet and knees inside the suitcase. Her hands were tied behind her back with what appeared to be white twine and packing tape.

She had bruises on her face, including a large one on her forehead.

The federal complaint says Da Silva claimed in interviews with investigators that he and Reyes had sex in her apartment and at some point she fell and bumped her head. Then, he claimed, he put her body in a suitcase and brought it to Connecticut, then dumped it in the woods, the complaint says.

He denied killing her.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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