Authorities in upstate New York have charged Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, a 21-year-old Ecuadorian migrant who entered the US illegally, with the murder of 21-year-old Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza. The tragic incident occurred on Toaquiza’s birthday, and her body was found buried in a shallow grave in a New York park.
Chacaguasay-Ilbis allegedly arranged to meet Toaquiza at his Airbnb in Syracuse on June 18. The two Ecuadorians, who had attended elementary school together back in their home country, were captured on surveillance cameras entering the rental property just before 4:30 pm. Toaquiza’s remains were not discovered until several days later when her family reported her missing.
The accused killer turned himself in to the police late Tuesday and now faces second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse charges. During his arraignment in Syracuse City Court, he claimed that he had no recollection of the alleged slaying due to being intoxicated.
Chacaguasay-Ilbis had been apprehended by US Border Patrol agents in January 2023 after illegally crossing the border in El Paso, Texas. However, due to limited detention space, he was released into the US with a tracking device.
Toaquiza’s relatives confirmed that she had immigrated to the US the previous year, although her exact immigration status remains unclear. Chacaguasay-Ilbis is currently held at the Onondaga County Justice Center without bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on July 2.
In a related incident, another migrant, 21-year-old Sakir Akkan from Turkey, was arrested in Albany last week. He allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl whom he forced into his car after threatening her with a metal pole. Akkan had previously been stopped by US Border Patrol agents in San Diego, California, in November of the previous year. Despite his illegal entry, he was also released due to a lack of available detention space and is now ordered to appear in court next February.