Queens tenant charged with murder after building superintendent found dead in apartment

QUEENS, N.Y. — A Queens woman has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly killing her building superintendent, who had entered her Kew Gardens Hills apartment to collect overdue rent, authorities announced Thursday.

Sandra Coto-Navarro, 48, is accused of murdering 55-year-old Jose Portillo, whose body was discovered by police wrapped in garbage bags and hidden under a bed in her apartment. Portillo had reportedly gone to Coto-Navarro’s residence on Tuesday around 8:40 a.m. to collect unpaid rent on behalf of the landlord.

“This was a gruesome murder,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “As alleged, the defendant not only murdered the superintendent trying to collect rent, but attempted to dismember the lifeless victim, wrapped his body in black garbage bags and tried bleaching the area. Now, a life has been lost and a family is in upheaval because the defendant allegedly chose to resolve a rent dispute with violence.”

Authorities said Portillo’s coworkers contacted the NYPD around 5:00 p.m. after he failed to return to work and was unreachable by phone. Police reviewed building surveillance footage, which reportedly showed Portillo entering but never leaving Coto-Navarro’s apartment.

Upon entering the apartment, officers found Portillo’s body under the bed, along with a strong smell of bleach and evidence of blood near the bed and dresser. The Medical Examiner’s Office determined Portillo suffered multiple blunt force injuries to the head and had a bag placed over his head, causing his death. Post-mortem injuries included sharp force wounds to his neck and leg.

Coto-Navarro was arraigned late Thursday night before Queens Criminal Court Judge Vidya Pappachan on charges of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and criminal possession of a weapon. She was remanded into custody and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

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