ROCHESTER NEW YORK NEWS, A Rochester man has been charged with murder after the body of a woman who had been missing for about a week was found concealed inside her apartment earlier this week, police reported.
Authorities said 57-year-old Maria Benitez was discovered dead on Monday inside her apartment on St. Paul Street. Investigators believe she had been deceased for several days before being found and noted that she had not been seen for at least a week.
Police allege that 47-year-old Jose Davila, who had been staying at Benitez’s residence, became involved in an argument with her on Thursday. During the dispute, investigators claim Davila struck Benitez, leading to her death, and then hid her body inside the apartment.
Davila was taken into custody Wednesday in downtown Rochester and has been charged with second-degree murder. He is expected to be arraigned in court Thursday morning.
Officials stated that they have not yet been able to locate any immediate family members of Benitez. Authorities are requesting that anyone with information regarding her relatives or next of kin contact the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office at 585-753-5905.
The investigation is still ongoing as police work to determine the full circumstances surrounding Benitez’s death.
