Two people have been charged in the murder of a Connecticut teenager wrapped in a blanket on the side of a highway.
Edgar Martinez was just days away from his 19th birthday when his body was found Saturday morning, wrapped in a duvet, on Pope Park Highway in Hartford, NBC Connecticut reports.
Police believed his body was placed there about a day earlier after being shot in an apartment on Magnolia Street, where Martinez’s family says he lived with his two cousins — who are now charged with murder.
An unidentified 17-year-old man has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence, while 21-year-old Sender Soto-Veliz is charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.
Soto-Veliz’s bond is now set at $500,000, and he will be arraigned Wednesday morning. according to WTNH. The minor will also be referred to adult court.
Edgar Martinez was just days away from his 19th birthday when his body was found Saturday morning wrapped in a comforter on Pope Park Highway in Hartford.
Police believed his body had been placed there about a day earlier after he was shot in an apartment on Magnolia Street.
Authorities said they determined Martinez had been killed after finding gunshot wounds on the victim.
Officers from the Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions later found evidence of a crime committed in the apartment, along with descriptions of the suspects and their vehicles.
The suspects were found driving along Park Terrace later on Saturday.
The police are now investigating the murder further.
“We’re working on a few theories,” Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said told Fox61 of a possible motive.
“Most notably, there was a disagreement in the apartment that ended badly, which turned into a physical altercation, which turned into a murder.”
Martinez’s cousin, 21-year-old Sender Soto-Veliz, is charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence
Police say they found evidence of a crime in the apartment Martinez shared with his cousins
Martinez’s family has said they believe the killing was motivated by money, but said Martinez never got into trouble.
‘He stayed away from parties, [he was] very friendly,” his aunt, Veronica Imelda Martinez Mayen, told NBC Connecticut.
She said the family knew something was wrong when the teen didn’t show up for work Thursday and Friday because other family members described him as a caring person, a hard worker and a great big brother.
“He was the person who always took care of me even though he wasn’t doing well,” said Nisma Martinez, the victim’s sister.
“I will remember him as the most beautiful person I could ever know.”