It was unimaginable.. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022. 34,724. A Central Islip Senior High School student suffered "serious and severe injuries" after another girl allegedly attacked her from behind on March 17 as she walked to class, according to a . "The deck was stacked against me. Central Islip triple homicide: Complete Coverage - Newsday Who Makes The Best Cookies on Long Island? Their mangled bodieswere found nearby the next day. The trio had been tortured, stabbed and shot in a Central Islip home before their home was set on fire to cover up the crime, prosecutors said. Prosecutors relied on testimony from several gang members, including Escobars then-boyfriend, to make a case against her. Gomez, who pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in connection with the murders, is awaiting sentencing. [emailprotected]. [The defendants] are breathing, they can see daylight, Banegassaid through a Spanish interpreter. Escobar allegedly showed those posts to gang members, including her boyfriend, According to cell phone records presented in court, Escobar texted Ruiz the evening before the murders, writing, "Hey, so what's up for tomorrow?". But the defense tried to poke holes in the testimony, asking: "Were the victims members of a rival gang?". Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Jurors from the case who had come to watch the sentencing echoed the judge's words. Crime; be Well; EXCLUSIVE: Notice of claim filed against Central Islip School District over alleged misconduct, bullying . EXCLUSIVE: Notice of claim filed against Central Islip School District WYANDANCH, NY A 32-year-old Wyandanch man killed on Wednesday morning is the fourth shooting victim in a matter of days on Long Island, police said. Henna Harris, 47, of Central Islip faces a top count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and up to 10 years' incarceration; Harris also nfaces up to 8 1/3 to 25 years . The motive, prosecutors said, was payback. Ordered to kneel, and told they were going to die, the assailants made good on their promise except as to 22-year-old Elmer Alexander Arteaga-Ruiz. Authorities rescued a woman trapped in her basement and later found and rescued three dogs from a house fire Sunday. A man and woman reportedly stole about $800 worth of items from an Islip Kohl's, police say. Thank God I managed to get away.". The anger and grief of three murder victims' families filled a Suffolk County courtroom as two Central Islip men, convicted in the 2009 killings, were sentenced Wednesday to spend the rest of their lives behind bars. Im sorry for what happened.. The activity was detected last week, Supervisor Angie Carpenter told Newsday. I ran because the first words they said was that we were going to die, they were going to kill us, and they had weapons., Ruiz said he and his friends posted the photos using MS-13 hand signs perceived as a sign of disrespect by the gang because he thought it would attract girls and were not thinking of the consequences., He said that Diablita, Escobars Snapchat handle, fit her well.. Escobar faces up to life in prison when she is sentenced by Judge Joseph F. Bianco. He was one of a dozen MS-13 gang members and associates charged in connection with the slayings. It has since grown into a global criminal enterprise with a stronghold on Long Island. 3 women struck by stray bullets while inside Suffolk County homes He came here to work, as I worked to get ahead for my children., Ullaguarisaid Sanchez and his co-defendants took away my dreams., Bianco told Ullaguarihe has also raised six children and he said of her losing a child that hecant imagine what you went through at that time and what you still go through.. Rahsaan Pressley, 27, was hit by gunfire. 774. Gregory Thomas says. An alleged MS-13 gang associate was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison Thursday for his role in the killing of four young people who were lured into a Central Islip woods in April 2017. A reputed MS-13 member who allegedly spent years on the run after participating in the brutal 2017 slayings of four young men in a Central Islip park is now facing federal murder and. (Google Maps) BOHEMIA, NY A beloved high school principal who abruptly announced he would . Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara. Anderson Sanchez, an associate of the Leeward Locos Salvatruchas clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Central Islip to racketeering charges in connection with his participation in the April 11, 2017 murders of Justin Llivicura, Michael Lopez, Jorge Tigre, and Jefferson Villalobos. The program is designed to locate missing pets using a county-wide database. Jonnathan Zhicaypincay, 19, struck 2 pedestrians in Islip while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the district attorney says. Defense attorney Gerald DiChiara had asked for a sentence at or below the minimum guideline range. I love you: Chilling note found at murder scene after husband allegedly drives 500 miles to tell mom he shot and killed his wife, Prosecutors seek death penalty against plastic surgeon accused of murdering missing lawyer who represented former employer in suit, This was not a random act: Person of interest in custody after Detroit neurosurgeon found shot in head and wrapped in blanket, according to a record of his testimony reported by CBS News, Judge denies bail for ex-cop accused of murdering 16-year-old girl, Arrest made in cold case murder of woman killed at home while her infant daughter was in the next room, Donald Trump's lawyer suggests E. Jean Carroll's rape claims echo 'Law & Order SVU' plot point, 'Coward' whose co-workers joked he looked like serial killer on the news pleads guilty to 2017 murders, 'Extremely mad' driver who chased car full of teens at 99 mph over 'ding dong ditch' prank convicted of triple murder, Coward whose co-workers joked he looked like serial killer on the news pleads guilty to 2017 murders, Extremely mad driver who chased car full of teens at 99 mph over ding dong ditch prank convicted of triple murder, Following early morning 911 call, 87-year-old man found dead with pistol in bed after shooting 86-year-old woman: Cops. Escobars indictment can be read in full below: [image via U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York], Have a tip we should know? An alleged MS-13 gang associate was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison Thursday for his role in the killing of four young people who were lured into a Central Islip woods in April 2017 . Vaughan's attorney, William Keahon refused to comment. Prosecutorssaid during closing arguments Wednesdaythat Escobar, who was 17 at the time, convinced MS-13 members that the victims mocked them by posting pictures throwing gang signs on social media. She and Keyli Gomez, who has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges and is awaiting sentencing, instigated the ambush after seeing the victims flashing MS-13 gang signs on social media, a judge in the case noted in a June 2018 ruling. What to Know About Tick, Lyme Season Following a Mild Winter, Former State Sen. Anna Kaplan Files to Run for George Santos, Rise in Minimum Wage Comes for New Yorkers, But Some Chafe at Compromise, National Grid Plans to Hike Gas Bills By 17%, Files Plan With Regulators, Shinnecock Voices: 6 Shinnecock Women Grow Kelp to Fight Climate Change & Save, Devils learned and adjusted in 1st round victory, Hispano borracho estrella su auto contra patrullero policial, Once Complete, This $16M Home Will Be One of Amagansetts. From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. Escobar disposed of a sweatshirt stained with the blood of a victim, threw her cell phone from a moving vehicle when she was being followed by police, and falsely told detectives that she and Gomez were victims of a robbery in the park on the night of the murders, authorities said. All rights reserved. Escobars cohorts hacked and beat them to death.. Sparks flew during graphic and sordid testimony on how four teens were slaughtered in a Central Islip park five years ago. Sign up for discounts by becoming a Long Island Press community partnerhere. Two groups of teenagers were involved in a physical Your local officials on protecting schools and gun laws Didnt have a mother. Four accused members of MS-13 are awaiting trial for the killings, and two others will be sentenced to at least 50 years in prison. State Senator Responds To Invite From Sloth Encounters Of Suffolk A look at some recent arrests in the area. "Justice was done," said juror Linda LaRock. A man who was killed and a woman who was seriously injured after an intoxicated teen driver struck them have been identified, police say. L. to R.: Leniz Inside the Keukenhof gardens, take plenty of time to admire this beautiful and internationally renowned . In a rambling statement to the judge, Hasan Vaughan maintained his innocence, criticizing both the judge and prosecutor and claiming jurors were coerced into convicting him. They were trying to look tough and get attention. Thanks for contacting us. Prosecutors also said the deaths may have been motivated by a belief that those in the pictures were members of a rival gang. Prosecutors also played a jailhouse phone call Escobar had with Amador the day after the murders in what appear to be slightly-coded references to the failed five-part homicide.