Nurse's Death in Caguas Reclassified as Murder; Suspect Had Prior Homicide Convictions

Police have reclassified the death of Jennifer M. Torres Castro, a 36-year-old nurse found dead in Caguas, as a homicide following a forensic examination.

Nurse's Death in Caguas Reclassified as Murder; Suspect Had Prior Homicide Convictions

Authorities in Puerto Rico have reclassified the death of a 36-year-old nurse as a homicide after forensic analysis revealed she died from violent causes.

Jennifer M. Torres Castro was discovered deceased inside a residence in the Río Cañas neighborhood of Caguas last Wednesday. Officers responded to the home after relatives reported they had been unable to reach her. Upon arrival, they found the woman, who worked as a nurse, dead at the scene.

Following an examination at the Institute of Forensic Sciences (ICF), forensic pathologist Paola Luna García certified that Torres Castro's death was the result of violence, prompting police to classify the case as murder.

On Wednesday, investigators arrested Carlos Manuel Estefano Pino, 67, near the Barceloneta Outlets. He was identified as a person of interest in the killing.

According to Telenoticias, the suspect has a lengthy criminal history involving homicide. Secretary of Corrections Francisco Quiñones explained that Estefano Pino was originally sentenced to 167 years in prison for a murder committed in 1980. He was released by the Parole Board in 1989. Two years later, he was returned to custody for another woman's murder and was again freed by the Parole Board in 2023 after allegedly meeting the necessary requirements.

When questioned about the decision to release him, Parole Board president Samuel Silva Rosas stated that the man had not tested positive for substances and no behavioral issues had been reported. "Law 85 was not in place. But the Board regained jurisdiction in 2016," he said.

Source: Telemundo Puerto Rico

Source: Google News PR — Crime