Bronx man and woman charged in slaying, dismemberment, police say

Police arrested two Bronx residents late Wednesday in the murder and dismemberment of a 25-year-old woman whose body parts were found in trash bags scattered around the borough in recent days, the NYPD said.

Daquan Wheeler, 31 faces charges including murder, manslaughter and concealment of a corpse, police said. Ciara Martinez, 30 was charged with criminal facilitation, hindering prosecution, concealment of a corpse and other charges, police said. Wheeler and Martinez are boyfriend and girlfriend, a police source said.

The charges stem from the killing of Lisa Marie Velasquez, of the Melrose Houses, and the disposal of her body parts at locations in Barretto Point Park in Hunts Point and Crotona Park, officials said.

The city medical examiner on Wednesday evening ruled Velasquez’s death a homicide by multiple blunt impact injuries to her head and skull fractures. As of late Wednesday, police had no motive for the crime.

Soon after the medical examiner released details on Velasquez's identity, police officials said they were interviewing two subjects of interest and executing a search warrant at 1006 Longfellow Ave. in the Bronx, an address given by police for both Wheeler and Martinez.

Velasquez’s remains were discovered within the past week in plastic bags at two different locations. Her arms and feet were in trash bags by a pier in Barretto Point Park in Hunts Point on Tuesday. Her head and torso were found on Friday in Crotona Park, according to police.

Velasquez's pregnant mother was reportedly the victim of a homicide in 2006. According to news reports, Velasquez's mother was killed in March 2006 by a former boyfriend who robbed her of $35, according to police. Velasquez and two of her siblings reportedly watched as their mother was slain.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.