Two young men have been charged in the murder of their teenage cousin in a heartbreaking twist after his body was found wrapped in a blanket on the side of a Connecticut highway on Saturday — just days before his 19th birthday.
Police say Edgar Josué Chiche Martínez was dumped on the side of Pope Park Highway in Hartford after he was shot inside the apartment he shared with his cousins, NBC Connecticut reported.
The teen’s 17-year-old male cousin has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence, while another cousin, 21-year-old Sender Soto-Veliz, has been charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.
Authorities determined Martínez was fatally shot inside the shared apartment on Saturday, about 24 hours before his body was found wrapped in a comforter on the side of the highway, WTNH reported.
Martínez’s family told NBC they believe the murder was motivated by money.
His aunt, Verónica Imelda Martínez Mayen said that her nephew was not one to get into trouble.
“He stayed away from parties, [he was] very friendly,” she said.
Martínez, who graduated from Hartford High School this past spring, would have turned 19 on Thursday.
His aunt said the family knew something was wrong when he failed to show up for work on Thursday and Friday, while his sister described him as a caring person, a hard worker, and a great big brother.
“I’m going to remember him as the most beautiful person I could’ve ever known,” his sister, Nimsa Martínez, said.
Martínez’s parents are in Guatemala. His family in Connecticut hopes to send his body there for burial.
Police said Soto-Veliz, who is being held on $500,000 bond, will be arraigned in court Wednesday morning, and the juvenile charged will be transferred to adult court.
