A mother has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of her son’s girlfriend in the Bronx. Naida Jorge, 54, is accused of cleaning up the crime scene where 21-year-old Princesa Encarnación Soto was found. Authorities have charged Jorge with murder, manslaughter, and tampering with physical evidence, among other charges.
“She attempted to clean the scene of the crime,” NYPD Detective Chief Joseph Kenney said during a press briefing.
Law enforcement is still looking for 27-year-old Robert Struther, the victim’s boyfriend, who is believed to be involved in the murder. Encarnación Soto was discovered with severe injuries after the police responded to a 911 call. Reports indicate she had suffered sadistic torture in her Fordham Heights apartment before being left on the stairs.
“She was found wearing clean clothes, seemingly without blood, which suggests someone may have cleaned her up before placing her there,” Kenney added.
According to police, the evidence indicates that Encarnación Soto endured extreme violence, including being tied up and stabbed multiple times, as well as being beaten with a hammer prior to her death.
“The injuries suggest they were inflicted to cause pain rather than to kill her outright,” Kenney noted.
The victim had recently returned to the Bronx after a brief stay in Rhode Island, where she had separated from Struther. Upon her return, she was living with him and his mother.
Photos from inside their home reveal a disturbing scene filled with dirt and debris.
Security footage shows Struther leaving the Bronx building shortly after the incident. Interestingly, he had previously contacted the police, but the report was found to be fabricated. The authorities suspect this call was meant to cover up the abuse that Encarnación Soto suffered.
“My son and his mother concocted a story about an incident to explain the extreme injuries that needed medical attention,” Kenney said.
