A New York man killed the mother of his two young children, then wheeled her body in a wagon and buried her body in a shallow grave on the beach, prosecutors said.
Rogelio Lozano-Garita reported girlfriend Seraphina Pereira missing to police on October 21 — two days after he allegedly shot her in the head and wheeled her body to Rockaway Community Park in Queens, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
Lozano-Garita, 26, told police a surfer purportedly found Pereira’s belongings on the beach and dropped off her items with a note at his Queens apartment building, where he lived with Pereira, 35, their children and Pereira’s third child from another relationship, prosecutors said.
Pereira’s remains were found on the beach by a New York City Police Department K9 unit the evening of Saturday, October 24, according to authorities.
Lozano-Garita was then arrested in her death on Monday, October 26, records show.
He faces charges of second-degree murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence, the district attorney’s office announced in a news release.
“As alleged, the defendant mercilessly killed his girlfriend — the mother of his children,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “He attempted to cover up the crime by wheeling her body in a pull wagon to a nearby park and burying the woman in a shallow grave.”
Lozana-Garita is accused of killing Pereira between 2:16 a.m. and 6:04 a.m. on October 19.
Following the discovery of Pereira’s body, her sister, Davonna Gray, told the New York Daily News that she had been “putting up flyers all over the neighborhood all day and all night” while she was still missing.
In a Tuesday, October 27, Facebook post, Gray thanked police for their investigative work and compassion during the search for Pereira.
“We can rest alittle easier knowing our sisters killer is behind bars,” Gray wrote.
“Again thanks a million times for your care and help. May our sister rest easier now,” she also said in the post.
Gray said in another Facebook post that a candlelight vigil will be held for Pereira at Pereira’s home on October 31.
“Pain cant described how I feel…. love u beautiful till we meet again,” Gray wrote.
Lozano-Garita appeared in court on Wednesday, October 28, for an arraignment.
Court records didn’t list whether he had a defense attorney or entered a plea.
He’s due in court next on October 30, records show.
