By Michael V. Cusenza
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday that Sandra Coto-Navarro has been charged with murder for allegedly killing her building’s superintendent, 55-year-old Jose Rene Portillo, on Jan. 14 inside her apartment in Kew Gardens Hills.
The victim reportedly entered Coto-Navarro’s apartment around 8:40 a.m. last Tuesday to collect unpaid rent on behalf of the landlord. The super’s coworkers called the police later that day after he failed to return. NYPD officers discovered Portillo’s body wrapped in garbage bags and clothing stuffed under a bed inside the apartment.
Coto-Navarro, 48, was arraigned just before midnight last Thursday before Criminal Court Judge Vidya Pappachan on charges of murder in the second degree, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
According to the charges, on Jan. 14, at approximately 8:40 a.m., the victim entered the defendant’s apartment as he attempted to collect past due rent from the defendant.
The victim’s coworkers attempted to contact Portillo multiple times, and the victim failed to answer his phone. A call was placed to 911 at approximately 5 p.m. asking for police assistance in finding Portillo.
Arriving officers reviewed video surveillance and spoke to Coto-Navarro, who said that the victim stopped by her apartment earlier in the day and that she paid him $23,000 and Portillo left. The police then reviewed video surveillance which did not depict the victim leaving the apartment.
Upon returning to the apartment, police were directed to the bedroom of the apartment. Upon entering the bedroom, officers observed the victim’s lifeless body wrapped in clothing and black garbage bags under the bed. Police also reported smelling a strong odor of bleach and observed a mop and what appeared to be blood near the bottom of the bed and by a dresser in the bedroom.
According to the City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the victim sustained multiple blunt force injuries to the head and a bag was placed over his head, causing his death. The victim further sustained post-mortem sharp force injuries to his neck and left leg near the knee. The defendant was arrested on site.
“This is not the way a civilized society operates,” Katz said. “The defendant will face justice for this heinous murder.”
Friend Julissa Gomez set up a GoFundMe page to help Portillo’s family pay for his funeral.
“Jose Rene Portillo was a loving and caring father to his three children. Jose Rene Portillo was the embodiment of what it means to be a devoted father and family man,” Gomez wrote. “Known throughout his community for his incredible work ethic, he never hesitated to help others in need. His greatest joy in life was caring for his family, and his loss leaves an irreplaceable void in all our lives… Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ease the financial burden on his family, allowing them to focus on healing and remembering the wonderful man everyone all loved.”
As of Wednesday, Jan. 22, $17,907 had been raised. To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-jose-rene-portillo-funeral-support?attribution_id=sl:9373406f-e9e7-45c4-86ec-37aac728664a&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link.
If convicted of the top count, Coto-Navarro faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
