Police to Conduct Raids in Murder Case of Nurse Killed in Caguas
Authorities in Puerto Rico are carrying out raids as part of the investigation into the murder of nurse Jennifer M. Torres Castro, a 36-year-old mother of two, in Caguas.
Police to Conduct Raids in Murder Case of Nurse Killed in Caguas
Law enforcement officers in Puerto Rico will execute search warrants as part of the ongoing probe into the killing of Jennifer M. Torres Castro, a 36-year-old nurse and mother of two children, in Caguas.
Colonel Manuel de Jesús, assistant superintendent of criminal investigations for the Puerto Rico Police Department, announced at a mid-morning press conference that officers would seek additional evidence before presenting the case in court. He stated that the Caguas Prosecutor's Office is working to ensure all necessary elements are in place for filing charges.
"As soon as we complete the raids, the prosecutor's office should be in a position to bring charges," De Jesús said. He also indicated that judicial orders for the searches were already being processed for execution the same day.
When asked whether charges would be filed against the man detained last week, the colonel responded that authorities would act as soon as the Prosecutor's Office makes its decision.
The death of the nurse was reclassified as homicide following an evaluation by the Institute of Forensic Sciences, which found bruising on the victim's face. The case had initially been reported as a death "without determined cause."
Days later, police arrested Carlos Manuel Estefano Pino, 67, who was out on parole in connection with another femicide. Although authorities were still awaiting autopsy results and an official determination of the cause of death, investigators had already identified a potential link between Estefano Pino and the case.
"From the very beginning, this was treated as a femicide," De Jesús emphasized.
Regarding Estefano Pino's connection to the killing, De Jesús did not provide specifics but noted that analyses of certain findings were underway. "As soon as those are available, we will be in a position to confirm that this was the person," he said.
The Puerto Rico Police Department and the Office of the Women's Advocate offer confidential assistance for cases of abuse, mistreatment, or gender-based violence. In emergencies, call 9-1-1. To report a pattern of violence, contact police at 787-792-6734 or 787-343-2020, or the Office of the Women's Advocate at 787-722-2977. The PAS Line provides 24/7 support for mental health crises, including suicidal thoughts, depression, or gender-based violence, at 9-8-8 or 1-800-981-0023.
Source: El Nuevo Día
Source: Google News PR — Crime