PHILADELPHIA — A woman wanted in connection with a grisly killing in Philadelphia has been arrested months after a 21-year-old woman’s body was found hidden in a futon.
Gerelys Sanchez-Reyes, 28, was arrested in Madrid, Spain, and will be extradited to the U.S., authorities announced. She is expected to face murder charges.
On April 5, police found Yuleisy Carolina Torrelles Martinez, 21, dead inside her apartment on the 4400 block of Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia. Friends had contacted police after not hearing from her for days.
Officers executed a search warrant and discovered Martinez’s body wrapped in a shower curtain and stuffed inside a futon. She had suffered multiple stab wounds to her neck and torso.
Sanchez-Reyes was named a suspect on April 12, and an arrest warrant was issued as police appealed for public help in locating her.
Martinez’s family said she had moved to Philadelphia less than a year ago and worked as a waitress. Local business owner Angel Cardona remembered her as a young woman just starting her life.
“It’s very tragic and mind-blowing,” Cardona said. “It’s a shame. My heart and prayers go out to her family, her friends, everybody that knew her.”
Authorities have not confirmed how Sanchez-Reyes and Martinez knew each other or whether Sanchez-Reyes had connections in Spain or fled there for other reasons.
