Mail Carrier Found Shot in Ponce Reclassified as Homicide; Suspect Arrested in Connecticut

A 39-year-old postal worker found dead in his vehicle in Ponce, Puerto Rico, was killed by gunshot, authorities now say. A suspect was arrested in Connecticut on federal drug charges.

Mail Carrier Found Shot in Ponce Reclassified as Homicide; Suspect Arrested in Connecticut

A postal employee discovered dead inside his automobile in Ponce, Puerto Rico, last spring has had his case officially reclassified as murder following forensic testing. The man authorities believe is responsible was later taken into custody in Connecticut on unrelated federal charges.

Néstor Alejandro Rivera Batiz, aged 39, was located lifeless on April 13 along Sabor Dulce Street in the southern municipality. At first, investigators treated the matter as a death of undetermined cause or possibly self-inflicted. However, further examination changed that assessment entirely.

Ballistics and wound analysis revealed a single gunshot that entered through the neck and jaw area, exiting at the rear of the skull. This evidence pointed conclusively to homicide rather than suicide.

Daniel Justiniano, who leads the Criminal Investigations Corps (CIC) in Ponce, named José Ortiz Negrón as the primary suspect. The individual lives in Connecticut and was apprehended on May 14 by federal agents in a separate case involving the smuggling of controlled substances through the mail system. He has not yet been formally charged in connection with Rivera Batiz's slaying.

Police established that the two men were acquainted. On the evening prior to the discovery of the body, both had been present at a birthday celebration for a mutual acquaintance. Surveillance cameras reportedly captured the suspect in the vicinity around the time of the incident.

Officials have not disclosed a possible motive, citing the ongoing nature of the probe.

Source: Telemundo Puerto Rico

Source: Google News PR — Crime