A teenager’s body was discovered wrapped in a comforter and discarded alongside a Connecticut highway, and now two of his cousins have been charged with his murder.
Edgar Josué Chiche Martínez, 18, was found dead at 80 Pope Park Highway in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday morning, according to the Hartford Police Department.
The child died from two gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiner’s office, and his body lay next to the highway for about 24 hours before anyone found it.
Hartford Police told The Independent that two of the victim’s relatives, a 17-year-old who cannot be identified due to his age and Sender Soto-Veliz, 21, had been arrested.
The 17-year-old was accused of murder and tampering with evidence, while Soto-Veliz was charged with second-degree obstruction of prosecution and evidence tampering.
Police claimed the two suspects and the victim shared an apartment near Keney Park.
Martínez, who graduated from college in the spring and was about to turn 19, was allegedly shot dead inside the apartment on Thursday.
The victim’s relatives expressed concern for him after he failed to show up to work on Thursday and Friday.
Authorities found his body on Saturday, located one of the suspect’s vehicles, and arrested the two that evening, according to police.
Investigators allegedly discovered proof of the killing inside the residence.
NBC Connecticut reported that Martinez’s relatives believe money may have motivated his death.
According to the victim’s sister, Nimsa Martínez, he was always there for her, even when he wasn’t feeling well. “I’ll remember him as the most beautiful person I’ve ever known.”
“What we do want is for justice to be done,” his aunt Verónica Imelda Martínez Mayen said, adding that her nephew was fun. A prankster. He stayed away from parties. [He was] quite friendly.”
According to NBC, Martínez’s family is preparing to return his body to Guatemala, where his parents live.
Meanwhile, the 17-year-old suspect awaits transfer to an adult court. On a $500,000 bond, Soto-Veliz awaits his arraignment on Tuesday.