A woman from Queens has been charged with the brutal murder of her building’s superintendent, according to prosecutors. Sandra Coto-Navarro, 48, is accused of using a pipe to kill 55-year-old Jose Portillo, who was attempting to collect $24,000 in overdue rent from her and her husband. Prosecutors allege that Coto-Navarro, who was alone in her Kew Gardens apartment at the time of the incident, used the pipe as a weapon, believing that the absence of her fingerprints would not implicate her in the crime.
Portillo was found to have suffered multiple blunt force trauma injuries to his head, inflicted by a heavy object, according to a city medical examiner. The examiner also noted post-mortem sharp force injuries to Portillo’s neck and left leg near the knee. Portillo had visited the apartment on 70th Avenue, where Coto-Navarro resided with her husband, to discuss the outstanding rent.
The property owner informed investigators that he had seen Portillo enter the couple’s apartment but did not see him leave. Concerned for his brother’s wellbeing, Portillo’s sibling requested a wellness check. When officers first arrived at the apartment, Coto-Navarro claimed that Portillo had left after she paid him $23,000. However, surveillance footage contradicted her account, showing no evidence of Portillo leaving the premises.
Upon the officer’s return, Coto-Navarro’s husband, who has not been charged in relation to the murder, led them to Portillo’s body. The body was discovered around 5 p.m., concealed under the bed in clothing and black garbage bags. The apartment had a strong smell of bleach, and a mop was visible in the bedroom. Blood was found at the bottom of the bed and near a dresser, disrupting the otherwise clean appearance of the apartment.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz described the incident as a “gruesome murder,” alleging that Coto-Navarro not only killed the superintendent over a rent dispute but also attempted to dismember his body and clean the crime scene with bleach. Coto-Navarro, who also faces charges of tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon, was denied bail during her arraignment. If convicted, she could face a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The shocking incident has left the community in disbelief. A woman who identified herself as the victim’s ex-wife expressed her desire to confront Coto-Navarro. A neighbor, Allison Atlas, a psychologist, said the residents were “all completely taken aback” by the murder, describing Portillo as a “nice guy” who was “thoughtful and helpful.”