Westchester County Man Charged In 1999 Murder Of 13-Year-Old Girl

[Sugar Cookie]

A Westchester County man has been nabbed in the 1999 murder of a Bronx teen — putting the 22-year-old cold case to rest, police sources told The Post.

Joseph Martinez, 69, of New Rochelle, was charged Monday with two counts of second-degree murder in the February 1999 slaying of 13-year-old Minerliz Soriano.

The girl’s body was bound and stuffed into a plastic bag, then tossed into a garbage dumpster, the sources said.

The young victim was walking home from IS 135 on Wallace Avenue around 2:20 p.m. on Feb. 24, 1999, when she disappeared.

Her body was found four days later when investigators determine she had been strangled and thrown into the dumpster at Co-op City.

Westchester County man charged in 1999 murder of 13-year-old girl

Joseph Martinez, 69, of New Rochelle, was charged Monday with two counts of second-degree murder in the February 1999 slaying of 13-year-old Minerliz Soriano.

nypost.com

Police arrested 49-year-old New Rochelle man Joseph Martinez on murder charges.


DNA evidence led to his arrest.

Man arrested on murder charges more than 20 years after 13-year-old girl’s body found in Bronx dumpster

NEW YORK — Police nailed a man on murder charges in a 13-year-old girl’s death more than two decades after her body was found in a Bronx dumpster, officials said Monday. Minerliz Sorian…

pix11.com

 

[Sevens My Charm]

The girl’s vicious slaying remained a cold case until detectives used DNA evidence to link her disappearance to Martinez, who lived in the same building as her family, sources said.

 

[thuumpr]

No pity for this asshat... needle him.

 

[Symmachus]

Put this creep over the coals; I'm always glad when a cold case has a credible development.

 

[Maanderoid]

Is his age 69 or 49? Because it says both in the article.

 

[Sevens My Charm]

Is his age 69 or 49? Because it says both in the article.

69

 

[Mountaineer95]

SCIENCE!

Also, where is Sejanus? Interested in his suggested punishment for this guy.

 

[Sejanus]

Fit a nozzle injector into a lung.
Then fill it with expanding foam insulation.
Watch as he suffocates.

 

[Mountaineer95]

Fit a nozzle injector into a lung.
Then fill it with expanding foam insulation.
Watch as he suffocates.

That sounds...uncomfortable

*reaches for asthma inhaler*

 

[McDanel]

That sounds...uncomfortable

*reaches for asthma inhaler*

You asked for it!

I just love DNA. What a wonderful thing. From understanding my husband's brain tumor, tracing my ancestry, and serving justice, DNA is as remarkable a step as the moon landing. Unlike the moon landing though, this discovery keeps evolving.

 

[Mountaineer95]

You asked for it!

I just love DNA. What a wonderful thing. From understanding my husband's brain tumor, tracing my ancestry, and serving justice, DNA is as remarkable a step as the moon landing. Unlike the moon landing though, this discovery keeps evolving.

Speaking of moon landings (well, not really, but kinda...) did you see that recently-turned-90-years-old Mr. William Schattner himself recently took a ride in the Amazon Space Orbit vehicle? Officially the oldest person (by decades, I’d guess) to travel into space. His DNA would be worth a study, as in how does he not look a day over 70?

I’d never have thought of how DNA could shed light on a brain tumor. That’s really interesting. I haven’t had my DNA studied yet but def want to. Main reason being that I have a hereditary neuromuscular disease (onset about 12 years ago but only finally got the diagnosis two years ago) and my “type” is considered novel; as in I’m the first recorded person with this exact subtype. As an only child and with no kids and only one close living maternal relative, I’m super interested in how DNA works here. Can you share which DNA company you used and which package you ordered?

 

[McDanel]

Speaking of moon landings (well, not really, but kinda...) did you see that recently-turned-90-years-old Mr. William Schattner himself recently took a ride in the Amazon Space Orbit vehicle? Officially the oldest person (by decades, I’d guess) to travel into space. His DNA would be worth a study, as in how does he not look a day over 70?

I’d never have thought of how DNA could shed light on a brain tumor. That’s really interesting. I haven’t had my DNA studied yet but def want to. Main reason being that I have a hereditary neuromuscular disease (onset about 12 years ago but only finally got the diagnosis two years ago) and my “type” is considered novel; as in I’m the first recorded person with this exact subtype. As an only child and with no kids and only one close living maternal relative, I’m super interested in how DNA works here. Can you share which DNA company you used and which package you ordered?

For my own DNA, I went through National Geographic's Genome Project. You have a choice whether or not to share your DNA to their database.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A man convicted of killing a 13-year-old girl back in 1999 has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Last November, a jury found Joseph Martinez guilty of murdering Minerliz Soriano.


The case had gone cold until November 29, 2021, when investigators had new forensic testing at their fingertips.

"A DNA sample from a semen stain on the victim's sweatshirt was submitted, and it led to Martinez. Investigators then obtained a DNA sample from the defendant, which matched the DNA found on the victim's sweatshirt," Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said.

Prosecutors say Martinez sexually assaulted the girl before strangling her, and days later, her body was found inside a dumpster in the Bronx.

"Three decades of putting on a face that deceived the world. He thought he could outsmart those investigating this crime," Assistant District Attorney John Miras said.

Miras said Martinez thought his schtick as "Jupiter Joe" teaching children astronomy in public places would somehow prevent him from landing in the courtroom.

"I just want to say that I made a promise to Minerliz in 1999, and I just want to say that today we kept that promise. So I thank everyone, everyone behind me. The detectives, the attorneys, I thank you so much just for never giving up on her and keeping her memory alive," the victim's best friend, Kimberly Ortiz, said.

Martinez offered his sympathy to the family but said he disagreed with the jury's verdict.

Soriano would have turned 40 this year. Her father had the last word.

"We need to keep Joseph Martinez in the deepest pit of the abyss for the rest of his life," the victim's father, Luis Soriano, said in Spanish.

Man sentenced for 1999 cold case murder of 13-year-old in the Bronx

A man convicted of killing a 13-year-old girl back in 1999 has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

abc7ny.com