Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, a 21-year-old illegal immigrant from Ecuador, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Syracuse court for the June 18 slaying of Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza, also 21, on her 21st birthday. In exchange for the guilty plea, Judge Ted Limpert agreed to sentence Chacaguasay-Ilbis to no more than 25 years to life behind bars.
According to the prosecution, Chacaguasay-Ilbis strangled Toaquiza and then dragged her body past a police cruiser and buried her in the woods. Surveillance footage shows the pair walking into an Airbnb around 4:30 p.m. on June 18, and a few hours later, Chacaguasay-Ilbis is recorded carrying a slumped-over Toaquiza on his back.
Chacaguasay-Ilbis buried Toaquiza’s body in a shallow grave in Lincoln Park before taking a Greyhound bus to New York City, where he later turned himself in to the authorities. Toaquiza’s corpse was found on June 22.
Both Chacaguasay-Ilbis and Toaquiza were in the U.S. illegally, having crossed the border separately in January and June 2023, respectively. Chacaguasay-Ilbis was captured and released in January due to a lack of space to hold him, while Toaquiza told border agents she was fleeing an abusive partner.
Chacaguasay-Ilbis’ sentencing is scheduled for February 14.