Joselyn Toaquiza Obituary, Death; – A man has received a sentence for the murder of his childhood friend during a birthday celebration he organized for her, as reported by various sources.
Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis, aged 21, was sentenced to a term ranging from 23 years to life in prison on Monday, March 10, after he strangled 21-year-old Joselyn Toaquiza and disposed of her body in a park located in Syracuse, New York, on June 18, 2024, according to local news outlet Syracuse.com.
The report indicates that Chacaguasay-Ilbis took Toaquiza’s life following her invitation to an Airbnb he had rented for her 21st birthday celebration. He allegedly traveled to the hotel where Toaquiza worked as a housekeeper to meet her prior to proceeding to the rental property.
Prosecutor Anthony Copani informed the court on Monday that both Chacaguasay-Ilbis and Toaquiza hailed from Ecuador and had known each other since their school days.
Toaquiza’s family reported her missing on June 19, as previously noted by Syracuse.com. Her body was discovered by law enforcement in Lincoln Park on June 22, just four days after her birthday.
Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick confirmed to local media outlet CNY Central that Toaquiza’s cause of death was determined to be strangulation. Chacaguasay-Ilbis was apprehended on June 26 and faced charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in relation to the incident. He entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment on June 27, according to the outlet.
He later pleaded guilty to the charges on January 21, as reported by CNY Central. Attorneys presented in court that Chacaguasay-Ilbis fled to New York City following the murder and utilized Toaquiza’s credit cards for various purchases, including a subscription to OnlyFans, as per Syracuse.com.
In court, Copani referred to Chacaguasay-Ilbis as a “cold-blooded killer,” while Judge Ted Limpert expressed to Chacaguasay-Ilbis that Toaquiza’s death would be a burden her family would “wrestle with for the rest of their lives,” according to the outlet.
“Their inability to comprehend this tragedy is shared by me and the community at large,” the judge remarked, describing the family’s suffering as “unimaginable.”
Chacaguasay-Ilbis apologized in a statement to Toaquiza’s family, who were watching via video link in court, per Syracuse.com. “I feel really bad and ashamed for this situation that I have caused, for ignoring my principles and values. …
I regret everything, and I wholeheartedly ask for your forgiveness. I wasn’t conscious of what I did,” he said in a statement read out by a translator in court. Letters from Toaquiza’s family were also read out in court, including one from her father, which read, “I am devastated by your departure my princess.” NEWSCHAIN has reached out to the U.S. District Court and New York State Unified Court System for additional information.
