A man has been charged with murder after authorities discovered the remains of a Florida woman inside a suitcase in Georgia. The victim, Carmen Elsa Escalante Carrera, 29, went missing from her home in Florida, and her boyfriend, 41-year-old Jorge Javier Quintero, was charged with first-degree murder following the investigation.
The case began on October 29, when Quintero sent alarming messages to a friend. This friend found a crime scene in his Orlando apartment, which included a bathtub covered in blood and a bloody knife. When police arrived, they found more evidence, including blood-stained clothes and what appeared to be suicide notes. They also searched another apartment the couple was planning to move into, where they discovered bloodied towels and blood spots.
Despite the investigation, both Quintero and Carrera were initially missing. On October 31, U.S. Marshalls located Quintero in Saraland, Alabama, where he was shot during an encounter with law enforcement and was hospitalized in critical condition.
Later that day, officials in Georgia found a suitcase on the roadside containing Carrera’s dismembered body, which had a power cord around her neck and rosary beads nearby. An autopsy confirmed that she died from ligature strangulation. Carrera was known to work as a teacher.
Quintero was arrested on November 25 and charged not only with murder but also for fraudulent use of personal identification. It is unclear whether he has entered a plea or secured legal representation.
If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, support is available. You can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, where help is offered 24/7 and is confidential.
