SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A 21-year-old man from Syracuse was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of a longtime friend during what was supposed to be a celebration of her birthday at a local Airbnb. The man, Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis, confessed to strangling Joselyn Toaquiza, also 21, an incident confirmed by chilling video footage secured by investigators.
The crime, committed on June 18, captured Chacaguasay-Ilbis on camera both entering and exiting the Airbnb with Toaquiza, the latter event showing him with her lifeless body. In a disturbing development, the authorities later found her body buried in a shallow grave at a nearby park. Four days post the tragic event, her remains were discovered, heightening the horror of the situation.
During sentencing, Judge Ted Limpert reflected the bewilderment of all involved as he acknowledged his own disconcertment with Chacaguasay-Ilbis’s failure to explain his motive, a silence that leaves the victim’s family and community grappling with unresolved questions. “This crime is really inexplicable,” the judge said, conveying the profound disbelief and enduring sorrow that haunted Toaquiza’s family and friends.
The relationship between Chacaguasay-Ilbis and Toaquiza, traced back to their childhood, ends with this tragic chapter wherein Chacaguasay-Ilbis borrowed her credit cards post-murder to make personal purchases. Further complicating the case are the legal concerns regarding Chacaguasay-Ilbis, who came to the U.S. from Ecuador in 2022, overstaying his initial entry legally allowed period.
In court, Chacaguasay-Ilbis attempted to express his remorse. “I want to apologize… I regret everything and wholeheartedly ask for your forgiveness,” he asserted, though his apology fell short of providing any solace or closure to the aggrieved family. Toaquiza’s relatives, through an interpreter, articulated a profound sense of loss, questioning, “How can you live bearing the thought of having taken the life of an innocent person?”
Adding an international element to the tragedy, an online fundraiser was organized to repatriate Toaquiza’s remains to Ecuador, allowing her family the chance to mourn and conduct funeral traditions native to their culture.
Reflecting on the case, local community members are left devastated. The senseless nature of the crime not only shook the Syracuse community but also sparked widespread discussions on the safety and regulation of temporary rental properties, echoing a necessity for closer scrutiny.
This tragic event underscores the profound impact of violence on communities and families, leaving lingering questions about trust, safety, and the human psyche. As the city copes with this tragedy, the loss of a promising young woman in such harsh circumstances serves as a grim reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the deep scars left by betrayal and violence.