1 00:00:14,180 --> 00:00:16,016 - She was a very good artist. 2 00:00:18,585 --> 00:00:23,189 Her apartment was very clean, but there was a broken wine 3 00:00:23,223 --> 00:00:24,457 glass on the floor. 4 00:00:28,361 --> 00:00:31,498 This girl fought for her life. 5 00:00:31,564 --> 00:00:35,301 There was blood in the tub. 6 00:00:35,402 --> 00:00:36,670 Blood in the sink. 7 00:00:36,736 --> 00:00:37,971 (OFF) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: The suspect 8 00:00:38,038 --> 00:00:41,408 was known to the victim or was let in willingly. 9 00:00:44,244 --> 00:00:45,412 (OFF) ANTHONY FISCELLA: We looked 10 00:00:45,545 --> 00:00:47,247 at the surveillance images. 11 00:00:47,313 --> 00:00:50,116 They were dressed head to toe in black. 12 00:00:52,619 --> 00:00:57,090 She was on different dating apps and social media. 13 00:00:57,223 --> 00:00:58,391 NORMA SANCHEZ: He's with us. 14 00:00:58,425 --> 00:00:59,292 He's looking. 15 00:00:59,392 --> 00:01:01,261 He's showing real emotions. 16 00:01:01,361 --> 00:01:04,464 But he was the last person that saw her. 17 00:01:04,597 --> 00:01:06,366 - Smartphones have a treasure 18 00:01:06,466 --> 00:01:07,934 trove of information. 19 00:01:08,068 --> 00:01:09,936 People will do things on their smartphones 20 00:01:10,070 --> 00:01:15,342 that they will not confess to their parish priest. 21 00:01:15,408 --> 00:01:16,509 (ON) ANTHONY FISCELLA: The police 22 00:01:16,576 --> 00:01:19,145 were able to follow this vehicle 23 00:01:19,245 --> 00:01:22,115 using surveillance cameras. 24 00:01:22,248 --> 00:01:26,319 Her friend said, in her apartment over her bed, 25 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,457 did you see the portrait? 26 00:01:30,590 --> 00:01:32,992 That's him. 27 00:01:33,126 --> 00:01:35,729 He's the guy. 28 00:01:35,795 --> 00:01:38,331 He did it. 29 00:01:38,465 --> 00:01:41,001 [theme music] 30 00:01:50,610 --> 00:01:52,178 - Greenwich, Connecticut-- 31 00:01:52,312 --> 00:01:55,882 Beverly Hills of the East Coast. 32 00:01:55,949 --> 00:01:58,818 ANTHONY FISCELLA: It is the best of the best. 33 00:01:58,952 --> 00:02:02,789 Beautiful homes right on the water. 34 00:02:02,856 --> 00:02:04,891 PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: A wealthy enclave of celebrities 35 00:02:04,958 --> 00:02:07,327 and heads of corporations. 36 00:02:07,327 --> 00:02:13,266 Yacht clubs, golf clubs, large mansions on 10-acre plots. 37 00:02:13,333 --> 00:02:14,434 (OFF) ANTHONY FISCELLA: Greenwich is 38 00:02:14,501 --> 00:02:16,503 the home to the Rockefellers. 39 00:02:16,569 --> 00:02:19,172 Homicides are very rare. 40 00:02:19,239 --> 00:02:21,574 That kind of thing usually doesn't happen. 41 00:02:24,144 --> 00:02:26,079 PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: On the morning of February 5, 42 00:02:26,079 --> 00:02:32,118 2019, shortly after 8:00 AM, workers riding in a Department 43 00:02:32,152 --> 00:02:35,088 of Public Works truck noticed a red suitcase 44 00:02:35,155 --> 00:02:38,625 discarded on the side of a road in the backyard 45 00:02:38,692 --> 00:02:39,926 of a wealthy estate. 46 00:02:39,993 --> 00:02:43,797 They pull over, grab the handle of the suitcase. 47 00:02:43,863 --> 00:02:45,865 It was very heavy. 48 00:02:45,899 --> 00:02:47,367 - This guy believed 49 00:02:47,434 --> 00:02:52,005 that there was something good in it and decided to open it. 50 00:02:52,105 --> 00:02:54,007 [unzipping] 51 00:02:57,110 --> 00:03:02,048 - Minutes later, they call 911. 52 00:03:02,048 --> 00:03:03,550 ANTHONY FISCELLA: Everyone went lights 53 00:03:03,616 --> 00:03:06,052 and sirens to the scene. 54 00:03:06,052 --> 00:03:08,221 Myself and the detective lieutenant 55 00:03:08,288 --> 00:03:12,359 responded to the area. 56 00:03:12,392 --> 00:03:19,332 We blocked the road for a good 5 miles in each direction. 57 00:03:19,399 --> 00:03:23,136 There were news helicopters overhead filming. 58 00:03:23,203 --> 00:03:26,139 Everybody knew something bad had just occurred. 59 00:03:31,244 --> 00:03:34,914 The area was off to the side of the road and backyard 60 00:03:35,081 --> 00:03:37,917 of a very wealthy mansion. 61 00:03:37,951 --> 00:03:39,419 (OFF) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: There 62 00:03:39,486 --> 00:03:42,088 were small trees and branches camouflaging the discovery, 63 00:03:42,088 --> 00:03:45,425 the suitcase itself. 64 00:03:45,558 --> 00:03:50,497 When we approach the suitcase, we see 65 00:03:50,563 --> 00:03:54,434 the body of a lifeless girl. 66 00:03:54,501 --> 00:03:58,605 The victim was frozen. 67 00:03:58,672 --> 00:04:00,940 - She was folded up 68 00:04:01,074 --> 00:04:06,813 into a fetal position, with her hands behind her back, 69 00:04:06,946 --> 00:04:09,049 hog tied with twine. 70 00:04:12,352 --> 00:04:19,459 In my 20 years, to have the body of a young female stuffed 71 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:25,065 into a suitcase was pretty shocking. 72 00:04:25,065 --> 00:04:27,100 PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: Ice crystals and ice 73 00:04:27,167 --> 00:04:29,803 around the nose and the mouth that 74 00:04:29,936 --> 00:04:32,072 indicated she was breathing when 75 00:04:32,105 --> 00:04:34,441 she was inside that suitcase. 76 00:04:34,474 --> 00:04:39,179 There was trauma around her head area and her cheeks. 77 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,349 A contusion on her forehead. 78 00:04:42,449 --> 00:04:44,617 - It looked like a golf ball. 79 00:04:44,651 --> 00:04:48,988 She also had abrasions on her hands, broken fingernails. 80 00:04:49,089 --> 00:04:54,361 She had a T-shirt on that said "aimer la vie," "love of life." 81 00:04:57,664 --> 00:05:02,469 She took a beating, and this girl fought for her life. 82 00:05:02,535 --> 00:05:06,139 This was a beautiful young lady. 83 00:05:06,172 --> 00:05:10,777 You could see somebody loved this girl. 84 00:05:10,844 --> 00:05:14,180 She was someone's daughter. 85 00:05:14,247 --> 00:05:16,316 Where did she come from? 86 00:05:16,449 --> 00:05:17,584 Who did this? 87 00:05:20,387 --> 00:05:23,423 [dramatic music] 88 00:05:35,669 --> 00:05:37,437 NORMA SANCHEZ: New Rochelle, it's 89 00:05:37,504 --> 00:05:41,541 a small town full of parks. 90 00:05:41,641 --> 00:05:43,209 Beautiful town to live in. 91 00:05:43,276 --> 00:05:44,744 Means everything to me. 92 00:05:51,451 --> 00:05:53,086 We're not a big family. 93 00:05:53,186 --> 00:05:56,823 It was my four kids and I. My two 94 00:05:56,890 --> 00:06:02,729 older ones, Valerie and Sal. 95 00:06:02,729 --> 00:06:06,900 I was 21 when I had Val. 96 00:06:07,033 --> 00:06:09,235 I didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl. 97 00:06:09,336 --> 00:06:15,041 I just felt like my baby had to be a Valerie. 98 00:06:15,075 --> 00:06:17,243 It fit her perfect. 99 00:06:17,344 --> 00:06:20,580 It means valor, valuable. 100 00:06:20,647 --> 00:06:23,583 She became my best friend as a newborn. 101 00:06:27,487 --> 00:06:33,660 My son Sal is just a year and a few months younger than her. 102 00:06:33,727 --> 00:06:36,062 - She was 14 months older, 103 00:06:36,062 --> 00:06:37,931 but we had a lot of fun growing up. 104 00:06:38,064 --> 00:06:39,299 She was the bossy one. 105 00:06:39,432 --> 00:06:41,167 I kind of just did whatever she said. 106 00:06:44,237 --> 00:06:48,308 NORMA SANCHEZ: Val had that maternal instinct 107 00:06:48,441 --> 00:06:52,846 with him, always taking care of him and guiding him. 108 00:06:57,484 --> 00:06:59,753 Divorce is hard on kids. 109 00:06:59,786 --> 00:07:02,622 When her dad moved out of the house, 110 00:07:02,722 --> 00:07:04,624 Val was, like, around 10. 111 00:07:04,691 --> 00:07:07,027 She was very devastated. 112 00:07:07,127 --> 00:07:08,895 SALVADOR REYES: Our dad was always in our life. 113 00:07:09,029 --> 00:07:10,397 We have a great relationship with him. 114 00:07:10,463 --> 00:07:12,632 But not having a father in the household 115 00:07:12,766 --> 00:07:15,368 is different than having a father. 116 00:07:15,435 --> 00:07:18,038 NORMA SANCHEZ: She loved her dad. 117 00:07:18,104 --> 00:07:20,240 Before the separation, Val didn't 118 00:07:20,306 --> 00:07:21,941 even know what depression was. 119 00:07:22,042 --> 00:07:25,278 Never showed any signs of unhappiness. 120 00:07:25,345 --> 00:07:28,314 It was hard for her, but she just went through panic 121 00:07:28,448 --> 00:07:30,650 attacks, through depression. 122 00:07:30,784 --> 00:07:33,053 But she really wanted to be happy. 123 00:07:33,086 --> 00:07:35,455 That's why I always say she was a warrior. 124 00:07:38,858 --> 00:07:43,697 She had that artistic soul, that ability 125 00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:46,199 to paint and create. 126 00:07:46,266 --> 00:07:47,434 SALVADOR REYES: I was just always 127 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:49,836 so infatuated with drawing. 128 00:07:49,969 --> 00:07:52,072 Val just loved drawing too. 129 00:07:52,138 --> 00:07:53,873 She was just very talented. 130 00:07:54,074 --> 00:07:56,242 Like, very talented. 131 00:07:56,343 --> 00:07:58,345 NORMA SANCHEZ: She worked hard Monday through Friday, 132 00:07:58,445 --> 00:07:59,379 even Saturdays. 133 00:07:59,479 --> 00:08:03,283 But Sundays are a family day. 134 00:08:03,383 --> 00:08:05,018 It was simple things. 135 00:08:05,151 --> 00:08:08,788 Going to the park, to the movies. 136 00:08:08,888 --> 00:08:10,490 I felt always blessed. 137 00:08:13,026 --> 00:08:15,395 She mentioned she wanted to move out. 138 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:22,635 SALVADOR REYES: It was a little crappy, tiny apartment, 139 00:08:22,702 --> 00:08:24,204 but she just made it so her. 140 00:08:24,337 --> 00:08:26,840 I would just sometimes go there and just hang out. 141 00:08:26,873 --> 00:08:28,641 She was one of the few people that I 142 00:08:28,708 --> 00:08:31,578 just loved doing that with. 143 00:08:31,678 --> 00:08:33,446 - I remember her calling. 144 00:08:33,513 --> 00:08:36,249 She had broken up with John, her boyfriend. 145 00:08:36,383 --> 00:08:38,885 They had been together a few months. 146 00:08:38,952 --> 00:08:41,554 She was in love with him, but she felt 147 00:08:41,688 --> 00:08:42,889 like it was going too quick. 148 00:08:43,056 --> 00:08:45,725 And she was a little bit nervous, because he 149 00:08:45,859 --> 00:08:47,927 wasn't staying over anymore. 150 00:08:48,061 --> 00:08:51,064 She's alone in her apartment. 151 00:08:51,164 --> 00:08:53,767 She tells me, I'm having panic attacks. 152 00:08:53,867 --> 00:08:57,570 I'm feeling very, very scared. 153 00:08:57,604 --> 00:08:58,738 I'm confused. 154 00:08:58,838 --> 00:09:01,007 I'm like, OK, I know she broke up with John, 155 00:09:01,041 --> 00:09:04,611 but what is actually going on? 156 00:09:04,711 --> 00:09:08,214 And I said, maybe just come and spend the night. 157 00:09:08,281 --> 00:09:09,416 And she refused. 158 00:09:09,482 --> 00:09:11,785 Then I said, everything's going to be OK. 159 00:09:11,918 --> 00:09:14,487 If you need me, you can call me. 160 00:09:22,929 --> 00:09:25,532 The following day, I called her at 8:00 in the morning, 161 00:09:25,632 --> 00:09:26,933 and she didn't pick up. 162 00:09:27,033 --> 00:09:28,601 And I called her at 10:00. 163 00:09:28,702 --> 00:09:31,037 Nothing. 164 00:09:31,037 --> 00:09:34,507 And I did kind of get that little feeling. 165 00:09:34,574 --> 00:09:36,643 Why isn't she picking up? 166 00:09:36,743 --> 00:09:39,079 Why isn't she calling me back? 167 00:09:39,212 --> 00:09:46,119 I remember calling Sal, and Sal went to get his dad. 168 00:09:46,853 --> 00:09:48,154 - I wasn't worried. 169 00:09:48,154 --> 00:09:49,856 I was just thinking it's typical mom stuff. 170 00:09:49,923 --> 00:09:52,058 But after a while, it was obviously 171 00:09:52,158 --> 00:09:53,126 starting to get weird. 172 00:09:53,259 --> 00:09:55,395 I couldn't get in touch with her. 173 00:09:55,462 --> 00:09:58,298 NORMA SANCHEZ: And they went to her apartment. 174 00:09:58,431 --> 00:10:00,900 They met John, her ex-boyfriend. 175 00:10:00,967 --> 00:10:05,038 He was heading over there to apologize to Val. 176 00:10:05,105 --> 00:10:06,506 - Your sister's missing. 177 00:10:06,639 --> 00:10:10,010 Here comes her boyfriend with flowers. 178 00:10:10,143 --> 00:10:11,244 NORMA SANCHEZ: They called me. 179 00:10:11,311 --> 00:10:13,546 They're like, she's not here. 180 00:10:13,613 --> 00:10:16,616 Sal tells me there is glass on the floor. 181 00:10:16,750 --> 00:10:21,821 And the only thing that are missing are bed sheets. 182 00:10:21,955 --> 00:10:25,992 You don't want to think the worst. 183 00:10:26,092 --> 00:10:28,061 It's like, what's going on with my daughter? 184 00:10:28,161 --> 00:10:30,897 What's happening? 185 00:10:30,964 --> 00:10:32,165 (OFF) SALVADOR REYES: That night 186 00:10:32,165 --> 00:10:33,667 was probably one of the worst nights, 187 00:10:33,733 --> 00:10:35,835 because the not knowing. 188 00:10:35,902 --> 00:10:37,370 I slept in her basement. 189 00:10:37,504 --> 00:10:40,540 If she got home, I wanted to be the first one to see her. 190 00:10:43,076 --> 00:10:46,312 Then the next day, we went to her job. 191 00:10:46,346 --> 00:10:49,516 She wasn't there. 192 00:10:49,582 --> 00:10:53,153 Panic starts to ensue. 193 00:10:53,253 --> 00:10:56,956 Her ex-boyfriend was able to log into her email. 194 00:10:57,023 --> 00:10:59,559 There was activity from Chase. 195 00:10:59,659 --> 00:11:01,895 We're like, OK, so she's alive. 196 00:11:02,062 --> 00:11:03,063 NORMA SANCHEZ: It was weird. 197 00:11:03,163 --> 00:11:05,198 We don't know where she is. 198 00:11:05,331 --> 00:11:06,466 You just broke up. 199 00:11:06,533 --> 00:11:08,668 In the back of our minds, it's like, 200 00:11:08,702 --> 00:11:10,870 could you have anything to do with it? 201 00:11:13,707 --> 00:11:17,177 We decided to go to the police and make a report. 202 00:11:20,180 --> 00:11:21,614 (OFF) SALVADOR REYES: We told them 203 00:11:21,681 --> 00:11:24,084 that she has been hospitalized for her mental health, 204 00:11:24,084 --> 00:11:24,918 teenage years. 205 00:11:24,918 --> 00:11:27,320 They took it very serious. 206 00:11:27,387 --> 00:11:29,723 NORMA SANCHEZ: My family started with posters. 207 00:11:29,856 --> 00:11:34,294 They went around New Rochelle, the train station. 208 00:11:34,361 --> 00:11:35,829 - I posted on Instagram. 209 00:11:35,895 --> 00:11:38,598 It got a lot of attention, thousands of shares. 210 00:11:38,698 --> 00:11:41,334 I was just thinking, why are you doing this, Val? 211 00:11:41,401 --> 00:11:43,436 You got us worried. 212 00:11:43,536 --> 00:11:45,605 NORMA SANCHEZ: We started calling hospitals. 213 00:11:45,739 --> 00:11:48,875 We thought she was getting mental help for herself. 214 00:11:48,975 --> 00:11:52,946 They wouldn't give answers because it's private. 215 00:11:53,113 --> 00:11:54,280 I was nervous. 216 00:11:54,414 --> 00:11:55,515 I was scared. 217 00:11:55,582 --> 00:11:58,385 She's gone through depression. 218 00:11:58,418 --> 00:12:00,120 There's a breakup. 219 00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:02,722 Because it's too much for her? 220 00:12:02,756 --> 00:12:05,058 Could she have taken her own life? 221 00:12:08,528 --> 00:12:11,097 ANTHONY FISCELLA: He and Valerie had argued the day 222 00:12:11,097 --> 00:12:12,665 before she went missing. 223 00:12:12,732 --> 00:12:13,833 (OFF) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: We see 224 00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:17,137 glowing areas of blood on the wall 225 00:12:17,270 --> 00:12:19,939 and a few drops on the mattress. 226 00:12:20,073 --> 00:12:21,141 (ON) ANTHONY FISCELLA: Something 227 00:12:21,241 --> 00:12:25,745 had happened to Valerie here. 228 00:12:25,812 --> 00:12:27,847 [theme music] 229 00:12:30,817 --> 00:12:32,886 [theme music] 230 00:12:43,697 --> 00:12:47,600 ANTHONY FISCELLA: January 30, 2019, Valerie 231 00:12:47,701 --> 00:12:51,738 Reyes had not returned home. 232 00:12:51,838 --> 00:12:55,542 The Reyes family became concerned. 233 00:12:55,642 --> 00:12:58,578 They contacted the New Rochelle Police Department 234 00:12:58,678 --> 00:13:01,581 and reported her missing. 235 00:13:01,681 --> 00:13:07,087 Her mother related that Valerie had issues with anxiety. 236 00:13:07,220 --> 00:13:09,589 They were concerned she could have harmed herself. 237 00:13:14,094 --> 00:13:15,595 NORMA SANCHEZ: I called hospitals. 238 00:13:15,695 --> 00:13:20,133 They wouldn't give any answers because it's private. 239 00:13:20,133 --> 00:13:21,468 (OFF) ANTHONY FISCELLA: The family 240 00:13:21,568 --> 00:13:24,404 had started to gather telephone information, 241 00:13:24,437 --> 00:13:28,408 cell phone data on Valerie, as well as banking records. 242 00:13:31,444 --> 00:13:34,647 Police detectives began doing traces 243 00:13:34,748 --> 00:13:38,084 on her banking information. 244 00:13:38,084 --> 00:13:40,954 They saw someone had drained her bank account 245 00:13:41,087 --> 00:13:43,323 of several thousand dollars. 246 00:13:43,423 --> 00:13:45,592 Something was very suspicious. 247 00:13:49,763 --> 00:13:51,564 PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: Detectives request banking 248 00:13:51,664 --> 00:13:53,400 information from all of the withdrawal 249 00:13:53,466 --> 00:13:56,236 points and the ATM locations. 250 00:13:56,269 --> 00:13:58,838 ANTHONY FISCELLA: We then start to interview 251 00:13:58,838 --> 00:14:00,607 the people closest to her. 252 00:14:03,376 --> 00:14:09,649 John told the investigators he and Valerie had argued the day 253 00:14:09,716 --> 00:14:11,818 before she went missing. 254 00:14:11,885 --> 00:14:14,754 He was upset that she was seeking more 255 00:14:14,821 --> 00:14:17,157 freedom in their relationship. 256 00:14:17,223 --> 00:14:18,658 He did not want that. 257 00:14:18,758 --> 00:14:24,064 He said he had actually left a bouquet of flowers at her door. 258 00:14:24,064 --> 00:14:29,302 He also had passwords for Valerie's banking information. 259 00:14:29,402 --> 00:14:31,338 He was released, but all of this 260 00:14:31,371 --> 00:14:35,842 was looking very suspicious to the investigators. 261 00:14:35,975 --> 00:14:37,377 NORMA SANCHEZ: Every single day, 262 00:14:37,510 --> 00:14:39,079 I would message her. 263 00:14:42,382 --> 00:14:43,850 Please come back. 264 00:14:46,453 --> 00:14:48,088 You mean everything to me. 265 00:14:54,828 --> 00:14:58,631 ANTHONY FISCELLA: February 5, 2019, six days 266 00:14:58,698 --> 00:15:03,069 after Valerie's disappearance. 267 00:15:03,169 --> 00:15:07,040 A Greenwich, Connecticut, road crew was doing 268 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:09,576 a cleanup on Glenville Road. 269 00:15:11,911 --> 00:15:14,848 I was notified by my detective lieutenant 270 00:15:14,881 --> 00:15:17,283 that there was a body in a suitcase. 271 00:15:26,793 --> 00:15:28,895 PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: As we approach the scene, 272 00:15:29,062 --> 00:15:31,398 I look down the embankment. 273 00:15:31,498 --> 00:15:35,101 I could see the suitcase. 274 00:15:35,201 --> 00:15:38,071 We approach and see the victim. 275 00:15:42,409 --> 00:15:43,677 - She was a young, 276 00:15:43,743 --> 00:15:48,782 20-year-old female, medium-length black hair, 277 00:15:48,915 --> 00:15:50,450 several tattoos. 278 00:15:50,550 --> 00:15:56,089 She was taped with this packing tape from her chin 279 00:15:56,089 --> 00:16:01,027 up to the top of her nose and wrapped multiple times. 280 00:16:01,061 --> 00:16:02,796 - The days leading up 281 00:16:02,896 --> 00:16:07,634 to the discovery had been frigid, several days 282 00:16:07,734 --> 00:16:09,302 of single-digit temperatures. 283 00:16:09,402 --> 00:16:13,106 The body was literally frozen. 284 00:16:13,206 --> 00:16:17,944 The medical examiner arrived at 11:00 AM. 285 00:16:18,044 --> 00:16:23,783 We removed the victim from the suitcase and examined the body. 286 00:16:23,850 --> 00:16:27,220 - She had ice crystals about her face 287 00:16:27,287 --> 00:16:31,057 and neck and her bare feet. 288 00:16:31,124 --> 00:16:32,292 (ON) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: We noticed 289 00:16:32,359 --> 00:16:34,794 her hands had some minor abrasions on them, 290 00:16:34,894 --> 00:16:38,798 a fingernail broken on one of the hands. 291 00:16:38,898 --> 00:16:40,834 - This girl fought for her life. 292 00:16:47,374 --> 00:16:52,512 We had received information on the Greenwich Police Department 293 00:16:52,512 --> 00:16:56,082 social media account that indicated there was 294 00:16:56,116 --> 00:17:01,087 a missing female from New Rochelle, New York, 295 00:17:01,154 --> 00:17:03,823 named Valerie Reyes. 296 00:17:03,890 --> 00:17:08,762 Valerie Reyes appeared to have similar physical descriptions 297 00:17:08,828 --> 00:17:13,299 and several similar tattoos. 298 00:17:13,366 --> 00:17:15,769 At the medical examiner's office, 299 00:17:15,835 --> 00:17:19,839 we obtained very clear, identifiable 300 00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:26,880 photos of numerous tattoos that the female had on her body. 301 00:17:28,048 --> 00:17:30,150 Then we asked to meet with the family. 302 00:17:32,819 --> 00:17:34,854 - That night I get a call. 303 00:17:34,854 --> 00:17:38,958 They were telling me they found a body. 304 00:17:39,059 --> 00:17:41,127 When me and my dad got to City Hall, 305 00:17:41,194 --> 00:17:44,898 they bring us into the room and separate us. 306 00:17:45,065 --> 00:17:48,368 They showed me a picture of her arm, of her tattoo. 307 00:17:48,368 --> 00:17:51,071 It was our last name. 308 00:17:51,071 --> 00:17:53,406 That's when I knew. 309 00:17:53,506 --> 00:17:55,241 - He immediately burst out 310 00:17:55,342 --> 00:17:59,546 into tears, screaming, punching walls, saying, 311 00:17:59,679 --> 00:18:00,480 that's my sister. 312 00:18:00,547 --> 00:18:02,349 That's my sister. 313 00:18:02,482 --> 00:18:04,517 It was terrible. 314 00:18:04,584 --> 00:18:08,588 NORMA SANCHEZ: It was just the worst day of my life. 315 00:18:08,722 --> 00:18:10,223 I am shattered. 316 00:18:12,625 --> 00:18:15,895 It's like my entire soul just went numb. 317 00:18:19,065 --> 00:18:23,203 ANTHONY FISCELLA: We now know who this female was. 318 00:18:23,303 --> 00:18:28,308 Now we can center all of our investigative machine 319 00:18:28,408 --> 00:18:30,577 into solving this. 320 00:18:30,577 --> 00:18:32,412 Who had access to her? 321 00:18:32,479 --> 00:18:33,913 Where did this occur? 322 00:18:36,850 --> 00:18:40,053 Valerie's family let us into the apartment. 323 00:18:42,422 --> 00:18:45,225 Left at the door was a large garbage 324 00:18:45,325 --> 00:18:50,296 bag that was filled with all of her ex-boyfriend 325 00:18:50,430 --> 00:18:52,832 John's clothes. 326 00:18:52,899 --> 00:18:58,371 Her laptop and cell phone were also missing. 327 00:18:58,438 --> 00:19:00,774 The family had also indicated there 328 00:19:00,874 --> 00:19:03,843 was a broken wine glass on the floor, which 329 00:19:03,910 --> 00:19:07,280 her father had cleaned up. 330 00:19:07,313 --> 00:19:13,053 As we looked further within her apartment, one of our officers 331 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:18,625 observed a small drop of blood on a wall and another drop 332 00:19:18,725 --> 00:19:22,429 of blood on the comforter. 333 00:19:22,462 --> 00:19:26,132 Something had happened to Valerie here. 334 00:19:26,199 --> 00:19:29,769 This was a crime scene. 335 00:19:29,903 --> 00:19:31,938 [theme music] 336 00:19:34,307 --> 00:19:36,343 heme music] 337 00:19:37,243 --> 00:19:39,813 [somber music] 338 00:19:45,585 --> 00:19:48,822 - On February 5, 2019, 339 00:19:48,888 --> 00:19:55,328 road workers found a suitcase buried in a wooded backyard. 340 00:19:55,428 --> 00:20:00,333 Folded up into a fetal position inside this red suitcase 341 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:04,270 was Valerie Reyes, a young female missing 342 00:20:04,337 --> 00:20:06,039 from New Rochelle, New York. 343 00:20:10,343 --> 00:20:11,511 (ON) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: Our team 344 00:20:11,611 --> 00:20:14,781 of investigators go through that apartment 345 00:20:14,881 --> 00:20:16,783 with a fine-tooth comb. 346 00:20:16,850 --> 00:20:21,354 We had photos of every inch of that apartment. 347 00:20:21,388 --> 00:20:24,691 We then decided to search using luminol. 348 00:20:28,161 --> 00:20:31,698 When we apply the luminol, we see glowing areas 349 00:20:31,698 --> 00:20:33,500 of blood on the wall. 350 00:20:36,903 --> 00:20:39,773 ANTHONY FISCELLA: There was a lot of blood in the tub. 351 00:20:39,873 --> 00:20:41,241 Blood in the sink. 352 00:20:41,307 --> 00:20:45,879 So much that you could clearly make out a handprint. 353 00:20:48,048 --> 00:20:49,549 (OFF) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: The areas 354 00:20:49,616 --> 00:20:53,153 that reacted with the luminol were collected to determine 355 00:20:53,219 --> 00:20:56,189 whose blood it was. 356 00:20:56,322 --> 00:21:00,860 There were no signs that there was any forced entry. 357 00:21:00,894 --> 00:21:03,730 The suspect was either known to Valerie 358 00:21:03,797 --> 00:21:06,733 or was let in willingly. 359 00:21:06,766 --> 00:21:09,502 So Greenwich detectives zero in on Valerie 360 00:21:09,569 --> 00:21:12,706 Reyes's ex-boyfriend, John. 361 00:21:12,772 --> 00:21:14,174 ANTHONY FISCELLA: John indicated 362 00:21:14,274 --> 00:21:17,243 that he and Valerie had argued the day 363 00:21:17,310 --> 00:21:19,646 before she went missing. 364 00:21:19,746 --> 00:21:23,750 She had packed up all his belongings in a garbage bag. 365 00:21:23,817 --> 00:21:25,352 She was done with him. 366 00:21:25,385 --> 00:21:26,920 (OFF) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: Another red flag 367 00:21:27,087 --> 00:21:29,089 was that he knew Valerie's login 368 00:21:29,089 --> 00:21:31,591 for her banking information, as well 369 00:21:31,691 --> 00:21:34,594 as several other social media apps. 370 00:21:34,694 --> 00:21:37,097 Reviewing some of Valerie's social media, 371 00:21:37,097 --> 00:21:39,099 we learn Valerie had actually blocked 372 00:21:39,199 --> 00:21:42,836 John from contacting her. 373 00:21:42,936 --> 00:21:45,605 This immediately piqued our interest. 374 00:21:45,672 --> 00:21:49,909 We have an ex-boyfriend who does not take rejection well, 375 00:21:49,943 --> 00:21:53,847 is trying to get back with Valerie, leaving her flowers. 376 00:21:57,117 --> 00:21:59,919 We ask him to provide his cell phone records 377 00:21:59,953 --> 00:22:03,623 and give us access to his cell phone. 378 00:22:03,623 --> 00:22:04,758 - We also asked 379 00:22:04,858 --> 00:22:07,060 him for his DNA and fingerprints 380 00:22:07,127 --> 00:22:09,529 immediately for comparison. 381 00:22:09,596 --> 00:22:11,131 - We had to look further 382 00:22:11,264 --> 00:22:14,134 into all of these details to either include him 383 00:22:14,167 --> 00:22:18,471 as a person of interest, or try to eliminate him as a suspect. 384 00:22:22,442 --> 00:22:24,310 - We went to her job, 385 00:22:24,444 --> 00:22:27,147 obtaining video footage of her when 386 00:22:27,213 --> 00:22:33,219 she left work on January 28 and took a bus 387 00:22:33,286 --> 00:22:35,321 back home to New Rochelle. 388 00:22:35,422 --> 00:22:38,224 We checked that to see if there was anyone 389 00:22:38,291 --> 00:22:41,961 she came across that seemed suspicious or out 390 00:22:42,095 --> 00:22:43,496 of the ordinary. 391 00:22:43,630 --> 00:22:44,664 There was nothing. 392 00:22:49,936 --> 00:22:52,205 We start questioning her friends and family 393 00:22:52,205 --> 00:22:55,008 about her dating history. 394 00:22:55,108 --> 00:22:57,544 We interviewed her mother. 395 00:22:57,677 --> 00:22:59,846 NORMA SANCHEZ: Who else is a suspect? 396 00:22:59,946 --> 00:23:01,514 Honestly, John. 397 00:23:01,581 --> 00:23:02,649 Yes. 398 00:23:02,682 --> 00:23:04,751 Right away, you think because that's 399 00:23:04,818 --> 00:23:07,687 the person that had that romantic relationship 400 00:23:07,821 --> 00:23:09,322 with my daughter. 401 00:23:09,356 --> 00:23:10,824 But he's with us. 402 00:23:10,957 --> 00:23:11,758 He's looking. 403 00:23:11,825 --> 00:23:13,226 He's showing real emotions. 404 00:23:15,295 --> 00:23:16,696 (OFF) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: Valerie's mother 405 00:23:16,830 --> 00:23:19,666 gave us access to Valerie's cell phone account. 406 00:23:19,733 --> 00:23:23,069 Smartphones have a treasure trove of information. 407 00:23:23,069 --> 00:23:24,904 People will do things on their smartphones 408 00:23:25,071 --> 00:23:29,342 that they will not confess to their parish priest. 409 00:23:29,376 --> 00:23:31,978 ANTHONY FISCELLA: Then we reached out to one of Valerie's 410 00:23:32,078 --> 00:23:33,546 friends named Naomi. 411 00:23:33,580 --> 00:23:37,083 She knew pretty much all Valerie's life. 412 00:23:37,150 --> 00:23:41,388 Naomi gave us a list of people that Valerie 413 00:23:41,454 --> 00:23:43,390 had dated at the time. 414 00:23:43,523 --> 00:23:47,394 There was a guy named Joe who was a mechanic, 415 00:23:47,527 --> 00:23:50,997 and there was a guy named Javier. 416 00:23:51,097 --> 00:23:55,502 She was dating, different dating apps and social media. 417 00:23:55,568 --> 00:23:57,904 She was very social. 418 00:23:58,004 --> 00:24:02,575 This really expanded the number of suspects 419 00:24:02,676 --> 00:24:04,778 that could be her killer. 420 00:24:04,778 --> 00:24:06,112 (ON) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: At this point, 421 00:24:06,212 --> 00:24:07,647 all options are on the table. 422 00:24:11,484 --> 00:24:13,620 Looking at Valerie's phone information, 423 00:24:13,753 --> 00:24:16,723 we saw that on January 29, her phone 424 00:24:16,756 --> 00:24:19,292 was put into airplane mode at around 3 o'clock 425 00:24:19,426 --> 00:24:21,261 in the morning. 426 00:24:21,394 --> 00:24:23,430 Afterwards, we see that there were 427 00:24:23,496 --> 00:24:26,099 several withdrawals of Valerie's money 428 00:24:26,099 --> 00:24:28,234 from her bank accounts. 429 00:24:28,268 --> 00:24:31,338 At this point, it became even more important to find out 430 00:24:31,438 --> 00:24:33,206 through bank surveillance video who 431 00:24:33,273 --> 00:24:36,443 was making those withdrawals. 432 00:24:36,443 --> 00:24:40,080 Was it Valerie or was it someone else? 433 00:24:43,450 --> 00:24:44,918 (OFF) ANTHONY FISCELLA: New Rochelle 434 00:24:44,984 --> 00:24:48,888 Police Department obtained bank surveillance images. 435 00:24:48,955 --> 00:24:54,594 As we looked further at the surveillance images, 436 00:24:54,627 --> 00:24:56,096 something was wrong. 437 00:24:56,096 --> 00:25:00,033 They were dressed head to toe in black clothing 438 00:25:00,033 --> 00:25:03,169 and covering their face. 439 00:25:03,303 --> 00:25:07,173 It appeared to be a male that was withdrawing the money. 440 00:25:07,307 --> 00:25:10,477 That was not Valerie Reyes taking that money out. 441 00:25:10,577 --> 00:25:14,881 This guy may be involved in killing Valerie. 442 00:25:17,650 --> 00:25:19,285 DANIEL MCKENNA: The FBI gets involved. 443 00:25:19,352 --> 00:25:24,924 She was abducted, kidnapped, and moved out of state. 444 00:25:25,058 --> 00:25:26,826 - We knew he could flee the country, 445 00:25:26,826 --> 00:25:30,630 and we wouldn't get our hands on him. 446 00:25:30,697 --> 00:25:32,799 [theme music] 447 00:25:35,201 --> 00:25:37,270 ic] 448 00:25:45,145 --> 00:25:46,479 - The investigation 449 00:25:46,546 --> 00:25:48,982 at this point is zeroing in on this unknown male 450 00:25:49,082 --> 00:25:52,452 making ATM withdrawals from Valerie Reyes' bank account. 451 00:25:55,555 --> 00:25:57,457 ANTHONY FISCELLA: The initial withdrawal was from 452 00:25:57,557 --> 00:26:00,326 the New Rochelle bank on January 29, 453 00:26:00,393 --> 00:26:02,262 about 5:00 AM in the morning. 454 00:26:02,262 --> 00:26:06,366 The guy enters the bank, disguising his face. 455 00:26:06,399 --> 00:26:08,368 He makes the withdrawal from the bank. 456 00:26:08,401 --> 00:26:13,139 He then exits into a small black SUV. 457 00:26:13,206 --> 00:26:14,908 The New Rochelle Police Department 458 00:26:15,041 --> 00:26:17,577 were able to follow this vehicle 459 00:26:17,711 --> 00:26:20,213 using surveillance cameras. 460 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:24,951 They were able to get a license plate off a license 461 00:26:25,051 --> 00:26:28,355 plate reader within the city. 462 00:26:28,421 --> 00:26:32,258 This is a huge moment in the investigation. 463 00:26:32,258 --> 00:26:35,962 The registration information returned to a car sharing app. 464 00:26:35,962 --> 00:26:39,299 It was a black CR-V. It was a Zip rental car 465 00:26:39,399 --> 00:26:42,235 out of Queens, New York City. 466 00:26:42,268 --> 00:26:43,470 (OFF) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: We then 467 00:26:43,603 --> 00:26:45,805 serve the rental company with a subpoena 468 00:26:45,905 --> 00:26:47,874 to get the rental information. 469 00:26:47,941 --> 00:26:50,944 A short time later, we obtain the DNA results 470 00:26:51,077 --> 00:26:55,615 from the Westchester County forensic lab. 471 00:26:55,615 --> 00:26:59,085 The DNA results that were sampled from the bathroom area 472 00:26:59,085 --> 00:27:01,654 indicated a mixture between Valerie 473 00:27:01,755 --> 00:27:05,025 and an unknown contributor. 474 00:27:05,058 --> 00:27:08,128 This eliminates the ex-boyfriend, John, 475 00:27:08,228 --> 00:27:09,496 as a suspect. 476 00:27:09,629 --> 00:27:12,132 This leads to further questions as to the identity 477 00:27:12,198 --> 00:27:14,668 of this unknown male. 478 00:27:14,768 --> 00:27:19,339 We now focus solely on who's driving the vehicle. 479 00:27:19,472 --> 00:27:22,108 We obtain the rental information for the Honda CR-V 480 00:27:22,175 --> 00:27:27,047 and learn that the name of the renter is named Marco. 481 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,916 We run the license information for Marco. 482 00:27:30,050 --> 00:27:31,951 His general physical characteristics 483 00:27:32,052 --> 00:27:35,922 are consistent with the unknown man making the withdrawals 484 00:27:36,056 --> 00:27:39,125 on Valerie's ATM bank account. 485 00:27:39,159 --> 00:27:40,393 (OFF) ANTHONY FISCELLA: Finding Marco 486 00:27:40,460 --> 00:27:44,431 was top of the list to do. 487 00:27:44,531 --> 00:27:46,933 We learned from the rental car agency 488 00:27:47,067 --> 00:27:52,138 that the exact times that this rental car was rented out 489 00:27:52,238 --> 00:27:57,544 matched the exact times that Valerie went missing. 490 00:27:57,644 --> 00:28:02,415 But then we obtained the entire rental information. 491 00:28:05,018 --> 00:28:09,222 His rental agreement listed names of other drivers. 492 00:28:09,322 --> 00:28:12,425 We began to scour through that information. 493 00:28:12,492 --> 00:28:14,260 We saw the name of Javier. 494 00:28:18,698 --> 00:28:22,035 That immediately clicked in my mind as a person 495 00:28:22,035 --> 00:28:25,205 that Valerie had dated before. 496 00:28:25,271 --> 00:28:29,376 I reached back out to her friend Naomi. 497 00:28:29,442 --> 00:28:32,712 She said Valerie broke it off with Javier 498 00:28:32,779 --> 00:28:36,216 about a year earlier. 499 00:28:36,316 --> 00:28:39,352 That made him very upset, to the point where Valerie 500 00:28:39,452 --> 00:28:41,321 had to block him on her phone so 501 00:28:41,388 --> 00:28:44,557 that he couldn't contact her. 502 00:28:44,591 --> 00:28:50,597 I felt he was the guy and told her we needed a photo of Javier 503 00:28:50,730 --> 00:28:53,199 to confirm it. 504 00:28:53,299 --> 00:28:56,736 Naomi had asked me if I had been in her apartment. 505 00:28:56,870 --> 00:28:58,304 I said yes. 506 00:28:58,371 --> 00:29:02,542 She said, well, over her bed, did you see the portrait 507 00:29:02,575 --> 00:29:04,444 that she drew of me? 508 00:29:04,544 --> 00:29:05,779 I said yes. 509 00:29:05,912 --> 00:29:09,749 She said, well, beneath that was a portrait of Javier 510 00:29:09,749 --> 00:29:11,384 that Valerie had drawn. 511 00:29:11,518 --> 00:29:17,023 Naomi then took the further step of finding Javier 512 00:29:17,090 --> 00:29:18,591 on his social media account. 513 00:29:18,692 --> 00:29:20,226 PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: And I immediately 514 00:29:20,293 --> 00:29:22,729 recognized the profile picture being the same sketch 515 00:29:22,762 --> 00:29:27,867 that I had seen when I was processing Valerie's apartment. 516 00:29:27,934 --> 00:29:30,270 ANTHONY FISCELLA: That was an amazing moment. 517 00:29:32,906 --> 00:29:33,807 That's him. 518 00:29:33,940 --> 00:29:35,041 He's the guy. 519 00:29:35,108 --> 00:29:37,911 He did it. 520 00:29:37,944 --> 00:29:43,283 Javier, who Valerie had dated, was the same Javier listed 521 00:29:43,350 --> 00:29:47,620 on the rental agreement. 522 00:29:47,687 --> 00:29:50,957 After reviewing a background investigation 523 00:29:51,057 --> 00:29:54,828 on Javier Da Silva, we learned Javier 524 00:29:54,928 --> 00:29:57,964 was of Venezuelan nationality. 525 00:29:58,098 --> 00:30:00,066 He had come into the United States 526 00:30:00,033 --> 00:30:03,603 on a student visa, which he had overstayed. 527 00:30:03,703 --> 00:30:07,540 There was currently a deportation order for him. 528 00:30:11,978 --> 00:30:14,047 - We obtained the surveillance video 529 00:30:14,114 --> 00:30:17,317 from that rental location. 530 00:30:17,417 --> 00:30:21,988 We were able to see the unknown male from the ATM withdrawals 531 00:30:22,088 --> 00:30:23,690 without his face covered. 532 00:30:23,823 --> 00:30:26,960 That photo was Javier Da Silva Rojas. 533 00:30:30,463 --> 00:30:36,436 We had to make sure that the timeline matched up 100%. 534 00:30:36,469 --> 00:30:38,004 (ON) ANTHONY FISCELLA: There was 535 00:30:38,071 --> 00:30:44,411 a big disagreement about going and interviewing Marco Padro. 536 00:30:45,645 --> 00:30:48,515 The decision was made to go and arrest Javier 537 00:30:48,648 --> 00:30:51,885 on the deportation charges. 538 00:30:51,985 --> 00:30:55,522 We interviewed Marco Padro after Javier's arrest. 539 00:30:58,091 --> 00:31:00,727 We immediately sent a surveillance team 540 00:31:00,827 --> 00:31:04,297 down to the apartment building that was listed 541 00:31:04,364 --> 00:31:07,334 on the rental car agreement. 542 00:31:07,367 --> 00:31:10,570 There was a big concern we could spook 543 00:31:10,670 --> 00:31:14,140 Javier Da Silva into running. 544 00:31:14,207 --> 00:31:16,176 I was very nervous. 545 00:31:16,242 --> 00:31:18,745 He knows he's in overstay already. 546 00:31:18,845 --> 00:31:20,080 We knew he could flee the country 547 00:31:20,113 --> 00:31:23,917 and we wouldn't get our hands on him. 548 00:31:24,084 --> 00:31:26,586 [theme music] 549 00:31:29,989 --> 00:31:32,559 [theme music] 550 00:31:38,264 --> 00:31:40,367 - Detectives have identified a man whom they 551 00:31:40,433 --> 00:31:44,804 believe abducted and brutally murdered Valerie Reyes, 552 00:31:44,871 --> 00:31:48,108 a young, outgoing girl found in Connecticut 553 00:31:48,141 --> 00:31:49,476 tied up in a suitcase. 554 00:31:54,547 --> 00:31:56,416 The FBI gets involved because we 555 00:31:56,483 --> 00:31:59,119 believe that she was abducted, kidnapped, 556 00:31:59,119 --> 00:32:01,287 and moved out of state. 557 00:32:01,388 --> 00:32:04,591 And we had a concern the suspect, Javier Da Silva 558 00:32:04,657 --> 00:32:06,760 Rojas, a Venezuelan national, is at risk 559 00:32:06,826 --> 00:32:09,429 for fleeing the country. 560 00:32:09,529 --> 00:32:12,899 The vehicle that Javier Da Silva had rented 561 00:32:12,966 --> 00:32:15,135 was identified. 562 00:32:15,235 --> 00:32:16,936 Now we have to find this guy. 563 00:32:19,406 --> 00:32:21,074 PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: Using the rental records, 564 00:32:21,141 --> 00:32:24,577 we're able to track Javier Da Silva Rojas to the location 565 00:32:24,611 --> 00:32:25,645 of Queens, New York. 566 00:32:28,915 --> 00:32:30,083 (OFF) ANTHONY FISCELLA: There was 567 00:32:30,116 --> 00:32:34,154 probably six buildings that housed 568 00:32:34,254 --> 00:32:38,625 500 to 600 apartments in each. 569 00:32:38,725 --> 00:32:41,294 It was a big undertaking. 570 00:32:41,428 --> 00:32:45,165 We had to put eyes on him at that building. 571 00:32:49,135 --> 00:32:53,673 February 11 of 2019, late at night, 572 00:32:53,673 --> 00:32:57,177 my surveillance team observed Javier doing 573 00:32:57,177 --> 00:33:00,947 laundry in the laundromat. 574 00:33:01,047 --> 00:33:05,285 The officers ran over to grab him. 575 00:33:05,318 --> 00:33:11,157 Javier was arrested on the larceny and deportation order. 576 00:33:14,728 --> 00:33:18,064 He was brought back to the New Rochelle Police Department, 577 00:33:18,098 --> 00:33:21,401 where he was placed in an interview room. 578 00:33:21,468 --> 00:33:26,706 Marco was interviewed after Javier's arrest. 579 00:33:26,806 --> 00:33:31,644 It turned out that Marco worked as a security guard 580 00:33:31,778 --> 00:33:33,513 in the building. 581 00:33:33,613 --> 00:33:37,350 We learned he would rent out these Zipcars 582 00:33:37,484 --> 00:33:42,188 to other tenants of the building under his name. 583 00:33:42,322 --> 00:33:45,191 And that was his only involvement. 584 00:33:45,225 --> 00:33:47,727 At that point, we were able to eliminate 585 00:33:47,827 --> 00:33:50,096 Marco from the investigation. 586 00:33:50,163 --> 00:33:51,364 DANIEL MCKENNA: We do a search 587 00:33:51,398 --> 00:33:54,134 warrant on Javier's apartment, and we 588 00:33:54,167 --> 00:33:55,335 were able to get his phone. 589 00:33:55,368 --> 00:33:58,204 We do a search warrant on his phone. 590 00:33:58,338 --> 00:33:59,539 During the search, they actually 591 00:33:59,606 --> 00:34:03,376 found Valerie's identification and credit 592 00:34:03,443 --> 00:34:07,714 card in his apartment. 593 00:34:07,814 --> 00:34:10,383 ANTHONY FISCELLA: We interviewed Javier on February 594 00:34:10,450 --> 00:34:17,290 12, and he stated that he had found a card on the sidewalk 595 00:34:17,390 --> 00:34:18,558 in New York City. 596 00:34:18,625 --> 00:34:20,660 - You made a transaction on Canal Street? 597 00:34:20,727 --> 00:34:21,861 - I used the ATM. 598 00:34:21,895 --> 00:34:22,862 (ON) INVESTIGATOR 1: How many times? 599 00:34:22,896 --> 00:34:24,064 - Two times. 600 00:34:24,064 --> 00:34:25,165 ANTHONY FISCELLA: He had also found 601 00:34:25,231 --> 00:34:27,667 a PIN number and that he did withdraw 602 00:34:27,734 --> 00:34:29,235 money from that bank account. 603 00:34:29,302 --> 00:34:31,237 - What was the name you saw on the card? 604 00:34:31,304 --> 00:34:32,572 - I don't remember the name of the card. 605 00:34:32,639 --> 00:34:34,207 - Then how did you know it was a female? 606 00:34:34,240 --> 00:34:35,809 ANTHONY FISCELLA: The investigators 607 00:34:35,842 --> 00:34:40,280 showed Javier the name to that bank account was Valerie Reyes. 608 00:34:40,380 --> 00:34:41,715 They asked him if he knew her. 609 00:34:41,815 --> 00:34:43,483 - You don't remember the name? 610 00:34:43,550 --> 00:34:44,617 - No. - OK. 611 00:34:44,751 --> 00:34:45,585 (OFF) ANTHONY FISCELLA: He said no. 612 00:34:45,652 --> 00:34:47,087 We knew he was lying. 613 00:34:47,187 --> 00:34:52,759 We had that picture of Javier that Valerie had drawn of him. 614 00:34:52,826 --> 00:34:58,631 The investigators told Javier that, yes, you did know her. 615 00:34:58,765 --> 00:35:03,303 Matter of fact, you had dated her, and we know that. 616 00:35:03,403 --> 00:35:05,038 DANIEL MCKENNA: Well, then they show the photo 617 00:35:05,105 --> 00:35:07,407 of Valerie when she was found. 618 00:35:11,778 --> 00:35:13,680 At that point, he backtracks and he 619 00:35:13,780 --> 00:35:15,615 started minimizing, like most people 620 00:35:15,715 --> 00:35:16,883 in that position would do. 621 00:35:16,950 --> 00:35:18,818 - I didn't do that. 622 00:35:18,918 --> 00:35:19,686 I don't-- 623 00:35:19,753 --> 00:35:20,854 - What happened here? 624 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:22,288 Did you intend to do this? 625 00:35:22,389 --> 00:35:23,423 - No. 626 00:35:23,490 --> 00:35:24,657 (ON) ANTHONY FISCELLA: He stated 627 00:35:24,791 --> 00:35:27,193 that they had consensual sex, and she 628 00:35:27,260 --> 00:35:29,129 had fallen and hit her head. 629 00:35:29,229 --> 00:35:33,366 - She fell and she was bleeding and quiet. 630 00:35:33,433 --> 00:35:34,801 - As she was unconscious, 631 00:35:34,934 --> 00:35:36,803 he said he checked her for breath. 632 00:35:36,870 --> 00:35:39,572 She wasn't breathing. 633 00:35:39,639 --> 00:35:42,976 At that point, he saw a red suitcase outside, 634 00:35:43,076 --> 00:35:47,180 grabbed a suitcase, brought it in, tied up Valerie, 635 00:35:47,313 --> 00:35:48,248 and taped her. 636 00:35:48,314 --> 00:35:49,649 - Did you cover her mouth? 637 00:35:49,749 --> 00:35:50,483 - Yes. 638 00:35:50,617 --> 00:35:51,351 - With what? 639 00:35:51,484 --> 00:35:52,585 - With tape. 640 00:35:52,652 --> 00:35:54,487 - And placed her into the suitcase. 641 00:35:54,521 --> 00:35:56,956 - You were trying to fit her in the bag? 642 00:35:56,990 --> 00:35:59,125 - I didn't want to do any bad to her. 643 00:35:59,192 --> 00:36:00,860 - We don't believe when he says 644 00:36:01,027 --> 00:36:03,029 that they had consensual sex. 645 00:36:03,063 --> 00:36:05,331 - You had sex on the couch or on a bed? 646 00:36:05,398 --> 00:36:06,700 - In the living room. 647 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,302 ANTHONY FISCELLA: And she fell and hit her head. 648 00:36:09,336 --> 00:36:12,839 She had a large hematoma to the forehead, 649 00:36:13,039 --> 00:36:15,275 multiple cuts on her hands. 650 00:36:15,375 --> 00:36:17,177 She fought for her life. 651 00:36:17,243 --> 00:36:20,347 If he thought she was dead, you don't 652 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:22,382 have to duct tape her mouth. 653 00:36:22,482 --> 00:36:26,353 He taped her from her chin to the top of her nose 654 00:36:26,486 --> 00:36:28,254 with packing tape. 655 00:36:28,321 --> 00:36:31,691 If she's unconscious, knocked out, or dead, 656 00:36:31,791 --> 00:36:35,328 you don't have to do that. 657 00:36:35,395 --> 00:36:37,931 DANIEL MCKENNA: I'm certain that this is a murder. 658 00:36:38,064 --> 00:36:41,167 But in order to prove the federal crime of kidnapping, 659 00:36:41,201 --> 00:36:44,504 we still have to establish that she was moved out of state 660 00:36:44,571 --> 00:36:48,108 and alive in New York and had died 661 00:36:48,174 --> 00:36:49,876 in the state of Connecticut. 662 00:36:49,909 --> 00:36:52,712 Ultimate penalty for this in the statute 663 00:36:52,779 --> 00:36:54,214 is the death penalty. 664 00:36:54,347 --> 00:36:56,983 We needed proof beyond a reasonable doubt what he 665 00:36:57,083 --> 00:36:59,252 did in order to put him away. 666 00:36:59,352 --> 00:37:01,087 - If you planned to do this, 667 00:37:01,187 --> 00:37:04,557 you're going to be in jail for a long time. 668 00:37:04,657 --> 00:37:06,760 [theme music] 669 00:37:16,369 --> 00:37:18,838 DANIEL MCKENNA: Prime suspect Javier Da Silva Rojas 670 00:37:18,905 --> 00:37:21,274 attempted to tell investigators that Valerie 671 00:37:21,374 --> 00:37:22,942 Reyes' death was an accident. 672 00:37:26,212 --> 00:37:28,081 But the evidence photos don't lie. 673 00:37:28,214 --> 00:37:30,784 He beat her, bound her, stuffed her in a suitcase. 674 00:37:34,554 --> 00:37:36,923 Federal murder charges are hard to come by. 675 00:37:37,057 --> 00:37:40,927 In order to make it a federal kidnapping resulting in murder 676 00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:45,231 case, we need to now prove that he took her across state lines. 677 00:37:45,265 --> 00:37:49,769 So we had to establish that she was alive in New York 678 00:37:49,869 --> 00:37:53,073 and had died in the state of Connecticut. 679 00:37:59,579 --> 00:38:02,048 ANTHONY FISCELLA: The key evidence in this case 680 00:38:02,148 --> 00:38:05,618 might be the autopsy. 681 00:38:05,652 --> 00:38:08,722 - We have to go examine the body. 682 00:38:08,788 --> 00:38:10,924 DANIEL MCKENNA: On the day that she was found, 683 00:38:11,057 --> 00:38:15,595 it was probably the coldest four or five day span. 684 00:38:15,695 --> 00:38:17,364 PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: When we removed the body, 685 00:38:17,430 --> 00:38:20,734 there were still ice crystals and ice forms 686 00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:23,603 around the nose and the mouth. 687 00:38:23,636 --> 00:38:25,305 - And because of the cold weather, 688 00:38:25,372 --> 00:38:28,541 they had to wait for the body to thaw. 689 00:38:28,608 --> 00:38:31,077 The ME found crystallization in her lungs. 690 00:38:31,177 --> 00:38:34,481 She had fluid in her lungs that froze. 691 00:38:34,514 --> 00:38:36,282 (OFF) PIERANGELO CORTICELLI: That indicated 692 00:38:36,316 --> 00:38:38,251 that she was still alive when she was 693 00:38:38,318 --> 00:38:41,054 stuffed inside that suitcase. 694 00:38:41,154 --> 00:38:43,556 DANIEL MCKENNA: The ME determined she asphyxiated, 695 00:38:43,623 --> 00:38:48,661 unable to breathe, tied up in the suitcase. 696 00:38:48,762 --> 00:38:51,598 That showed that she was alive in New York 697 00:38:51,664 --> 00:38:54,234 and died in the state of Connecticut. 698 00:38:57,070 --> 00:38:58,438 All those little things were real important, 699 00:38:58,471 --> 00:39:00,674 because if you don't hit all those elements, 700 00:39:00,740 --> 00:39:03,743 we don't have a charge. 701 00:39:03,810 --> 00:39:05,111 The Southern District of New York 702 00:39:05,178 --> 00:39:07,380 assigned the Assistant United States Attorney 703 00:39:07,380 --> 00:39:09,015 immediately to this case. 704 00:39:09,015 --> 00:39:10,583 We sit down with what evidence we had. 705 00:39:10,650 --> 00:39:14,854 We learned on the day of January 28, 2019, 706 00:39:14,921 --> 00:39:16,556 Valerie left her job. 707 00:39:16,556 --> 00:39:18,024 She spoke with her mother. 708 00:39:18,058 --> 00:39:20,360 She went to bed. 709 00:39:20,493 --> 00:39:23,363 About 10:30 on the 28th of January, 710 00:39:23,496 --> 00:39:27,033 Javier was caught on surveillance camera leaving 711 00:39:27,033 --> 00:39:30,170 the hallway of his apartment. 712 00:39:30,203 --> 00:39:31,671 He went to rent a car approximately 713 00:39:31,705 --> 00:39:32,706 five minutes away. 714 00:39:36,710 --> 00:39:40,580 Javier then puts the GPS coordinates of New Rochelle 715 00:39:40,714 --> 00:39:42,449 into his phone. 716 00:39:42,515 --> 00:39:44,584 And then he drove to New Rochelle 717 00:39:44,584 --> 00:39:46,453 and turned his phone off. 718 00:39:46,519 --> 00:39:49,723 He went up there to try to rob her. 719 00:39:49,723 --> 00:39:50,724 He's like a predator. 720 00:39:50,857 --> 00:39:52,625 He sees somebody that's vulnerable. 721 00:39:52,692 --> 00:39:59,065 She had approximately $5,300 in the bank. 722 00:39:59,165 --> 00:40:04,204 During that time, a violent struggle ensued. 723 00:40:04,237 --> 00:40:07,407 Valerie fought back. 724 00:40:07,540 --> 00:40:11,111 Javier beat her, which rendered her unconscious. 725 00:40:13,646 --> 00:40:17,884 At that point, Javier used her fingerprint to access her iPad. 726 00:40:17,917 --> 00:40:21,388 He said that I taped her mouth to stop her from screaming 727 00:40:21,454 --> 00:40:23,723 and yelling out. 728 00:40:23,757 --> 00:40:26,693 He put her in a suitcase and he leaves 729 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:29,362 the apartment, kidnapping her. 730 00:40:29,429 --> 00:40:35,101 And then he buried the suitcase in Connecticut. 731 00:40:35,235 --> 00:40:38,605 She was alive in New York when he 732 00:40:38,605 --> 00:40:41,708 put the duct tape around her mouth, 733 00:40:41,775 --> 00:40:44,277 then stuffed her in a suitcase. 734 00:40:44,310 --> 00:40:47,480 Then he proceeded over a five-day period 735 00:40:47,580 --> 00:40:50,817 to do numerous ATM withdrawals and basically 736 00:40:50,917 --> 00:40:52,819 cleaned out her bank account. 737 00:40:52,919 --> 00:40:54,454 - Larceny and greed was 738 00:40:54,587 --> 00:40:55,822 certainly a primary motive. 739 00:40:55,955 --> 00:40:57,123 DANIEL MCKENNA: His digital footprint 740 00:40:57,257 --> 00:41:00,927 does place him at all parts of this crime-- 741 00:41:01,061 --> 00:41:05,131 from the initial stages to the rental of the car, 742 00:41:05,231 --> 00:41:09,302 to where Valerie was eventually found in Connecticut. 743 00:41:14,240 --> 00:41:17,544 We know Javier Da Silva Rojas committed this crime. 744 00:41:20,146 --> 00:41:21,815 This case does not go to trial. 745 00:41:21,915 --> 00:41:24,250 There is a plea agreement. 746 00:41:24,317 --> 00:41:27,120 He would plead guilty to kidnapping 747 00:41:27,220 --> 00:41:31,424 with the result of murder and be sentenced to 360 748 00:41:31,491 --> 00:41:33,560 months, 30 years in prison. 749 00:41:38,932 --> 00:41:40,200 ANTHONY FISCELLA: She was 24 years 750 00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:42,602 old, just starting her life. 751 00:41:42,702 --> 00:41:44,804 I took it very personal. 752 00:41:44,871 --> 00:41:46,840 We barely slept. 753 00:41:46,940 --> 00:41:51,144 And we were going to solve it no matter what. 754 00:41:51,177 --> 00:41:53,680 I knew she was someone's loved one, 755 00:41:53,813 --> 00:41:58,618 and we needed to bring justice for her family. 756 00:41:58,685 --> 00:42:01,054 [singing in spanish] 757 00:42:02,055 --> 00:42:03,390 NORMA SANCHEZ: There's moments where 758 00:42:03,490 --> 00:42:06,593 I just feel like my entire soul is pouring out, 759 00:42:06,693 --> 00:42:08,194 and I can't stop. 760 00:42:08,328 --> 00:42:13,400 I always say, she's my star, my shooting star. 761 00:42:13,533 --> 00:42:17,904 I want people to remember that she was a resilient soul. 762 00:42:18,071 --> 00:42:22,509 And no matter how tough her life was at one point, 763 00:42:22,542 --> 00:42:25,645 she pushed through. 764 00:42:25,712 --> 00:42:26,880 She pushed through. 765 00:42:32,485 --> 00:42:34,354 [somber music] 766 00:42:43,897 --> 00:42:46,399 [audio logo]