Migrant Accused of Suffocating Syracuse Woman, Buries Body in Park

Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, a migrant from Ecuador, is accused of suffocating Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza, 21, on her birthday before burying her body in Syracuse on June 18. The incident unfolded after the pair, who had known each other since childhood, met at an Airbnb. Surveillance footage captured Chacaguasay-Ilbis carrying Toaquiza’s limp body from the property.

Chacaguasay-Ilbis allegedly buried Toaquiza in a shallow grave before fleeing to his residence in Spring Valley via a Greyhound bus. Her remains were discovered on Saturday after her family reported her missing. On June 26, Chacaguasay-Ilbis turned himself in to the Spring Valley Police Department. He was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse.

Chacaguasay-Ilbis, who claims he has no memory of the incident due to intoxication, was arraigned in Syracuse City Court on Thursday. He had been detained by the United States Border Patrol in January 2023 after illegally crossing the border but was released due to lack of space. Toaquiza immigrated to the U.S. last year, and her immigration status remains unclear.

The case has garnered significant attention, as it follows another recent incident involving a Turkish migrant accused of rape in Albany. Both cases highlight the ongoing issues surrounding immigration and crime in the U.S. Chacaguasay-Ilbis is currently held without bail at the Onondaga County Justice Center and is scheduled to appear in court on July 2.

Toaquiza’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of repatriating her body to Ecuador. This tragic event underscores the complex challenges faced by immigrants and their communities.