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In Syracuse, New York, Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison for the murder of his childhood friend, Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza. Chacaguasay-Ilbis admitted to strangling Toaquiza last June and concealing her body in Lincoln Park. Both Chacaguasay-Ilbis and Toaquiza were originally from Ecuador and were awaiting immigration hearings to determine their residency status in the United States.
The tragic incident occurred during a celebration for Toaquiza's 21st birthday, which Chacaguasay-Ilbis had organized. After the murder, he fled to New York City, where he used Toaquiza’s credit cards, including to purchase a subscription to a pornographic website, according to prosecutor Anthony Copani. Chacaguasay-Ilbis was arrested shortly after the murder while in a hospital following an unrelated assault.
During the sentencing, Chacaguasay-Ilbis apologized to Toaquiza’s family, expressing regret and shame for his actions, but he did not provide a motive for the crime. His attorney, Ben Coffin, stated that Chacaguasay-Ilbis had always taken responsibility for the murder and was eager to plead guilty.
The case has drawn attention to immigration issues, as both individuals were migrants from Ecuador. The motive for the murder remains unclear, leaving many, including Judge Ted Limpert, puzzled. Limpert noted, "It's something I'm sure the family is going to wrestle with for the rest of their lives."