A grisly discovery on the East River has led to a murder charge for a Manhattan man after parts of a body were found floating in a suitcase earlier this month. The victim, identified as 65-year-old Edwin Echevarria, was reportedly close to the suspect, 23-year-old Christian Millet, who is now facing murder charges in connection to the case.
On February 5, the New York Police Department's Harbor unit found Echevarria's body parts, which included a torso packed in a sleeping bag inside of the suitcase, according to a report by USA TODAY. Shortly after discovering the remains near Governor's Island, police managed to quickly arrest Millet, who lived with Echevarria and was considered to be like a grandson by the elder man. Millet has been charged with murder, although it is unclear whether he has obtained an attorney.
Echevarria, a retired postal worker known for his kind-hearted nature, was referred to as a "grandfather figure" to Millet during the arraignment hearing, according to a report by NBC New York. However, family members have revealed to WABC-TV that Millet was actually the son of Echevarria's long-term partner. "That's how Edwin was, kind-hearted," his nephew Eric Maldonado told the station. "If you needed something, he was able to help you," as detailed by USA TODAY.
At Millet's arraignment hearing, where he was held without bail, prosecutors laid out the chilling details of the crime. They allege that Millet confessed to stabbing Echevarria and then attempting to surreptitiously dispose of the body parts in the river. Investigators found incriminating evidence including blood-soaked paper towels and a screwdriver with a sharp, cylindrical head, believed to be the murder weapon, in the closet apartment they shared. Described by prosecutors as an individual overridden by "an insane urge to kill," Millet's purported admission adds a dark dimension to what neighbors had believed was a familial, loving relationship between the two men, as per NBC New York.
The case continues to unfold with more details expected to surface as the legal proceedings advance.
