Man Who Stuffed His Injured Girlfriend In A Suitcase Leaving Her To Die On The Road Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison
Javier Da Silva has been sentenced to 30 years behind bars after being convicted of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend, shoving her into a suitcase, and leaving her to die a painful death on the side of a road.
The beaten body of 24-year-old Valerie Reyes was found in Greenwich, Conn. in early February of 2019 only ten miles from her home.
According to the medical examiner, prior to her passing her mouth had been covered with tape, and she had suffered "head trauma, bruising around the face, and a large hematoma to her forehead."
The cause of death was ruled to be homicidal asphyxiation due to being trapped helplessly inside of the suitcase. Da Silva's DNA was also found on the luggage bag and under the victim's fingernails.
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Court documents noted witnesses claimed Reyes was noticeably “nervous, anxious and afraid someone was going to murder her,” only a day prior to her tragic death.
Following her murder, Da Silva wasted no time in using her cards to empty her bank accounts of over $5,000 in savings, as well as stealing some of her personal items of value.
The former couple had only dated for 3 months before the 24-year-old victim chose to end their relationship in April of 2018.
Reyes' grieving mother, Norma Sanchez, was allowed to speak at the 26-year-old's prison sentencing. “I want you to hear the words of a mother who you devastated by taking away my baby girl,” she said to the convicted felon while in court. “You deserve nothing but pain and rejection. Today, I hope Valerie finds the justice she deserves.”
Manhattan's Attorney General Audrey Strauss also commented on the horrifying case, adding “Javier Da Silva committed a horrific kidnapping that resulted in the death of a young woman. The victim of this crime was in the prime of her life when it was senselessly ended by Da Silva’s abhorrent act.”
