A 21-year-old man, Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis, was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison after he strangled his 21-year-old friend, Joselyn Toaquiza, to death. Under the pretense of celebrating her 21st birthday, Chacaguasay-Ilbis killed Toaquiza in an Airbnb and later dumped her body at a park in Syracuse, New York.
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According to Syracuse.com, the incident took place back on June 18, 2024. After renting the Airbnb, John Chacaguasay-Ilbis met Joselyn Toaquiza, who was working at a Central New York hotel. Both of them knew each other as they were both Ecuadorian nationals who traveled to the United States. While the nature of their relationship in their adulthood is unknown, Chacaguasay-Ilbis convinced Toaquiza to celebrate her 21st birthday at the Airbnb.
Instead of celebrating her birthday, Chacaguasay-Ilbis strangled Toaquiza to death and then dumped her body in Lincoln Park. He then fled Syracuse and arrived in New York City. With Toaquiza's credit cards in his possession, Chacaguasay-Ilbis started spending. According to prosecutor Anthony Copani, he even used them to purchase an OnlyFans subscription.
A day after the murder, Joselyn Toaquiza was reported missing by her family. On June 22, police found Toaquiza's body at Lincoln Park.
Arrested, Charged, Sentenced
Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis was arrested on June 26, 2024. According to Chacaguasay-Ilbis's defense attorney, Ben Coffin, he was arrested at a hospital after he was allegedly mugged and sexually assaulted by a sex worker. While Coffin described his actions as a sign of him being affected by his murder, the prosecution argued that Chacaguasay-Ilbis was acting as if nothing had happened. Prosecutor Copani called him a " cold-blooded killer."
Chacaguasay-Ilbis was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse, as per PEOPLE. Initially, during his arraignment on June 27, 2024, he pleaded not guilty. However, on June 21, he changed his plea to guilty.
In court, Chacaguasay-Ilbis apologized to his and Toaquiza's family. "I feel really bad and ashamed for this situation that I have caused, for ignoring my principles and values," he said, as per Syracuse.com. "I regret everything, and I wholeheartedly ask for your forgiveness, I wasn't conscious of what I did."
Judge Ted Limpert found that the lack of explanation for Toaquiza's death was extremely concerning. "It's something I'm sure the family is going to wrestle with for the rest of their lives," Limpert said. "They can't understand it. Nor can I, nor can the people of this community."
On Monday, March 10, Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison.
