This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/26/2020 11:00 PMEast Haven Police have arrested Jonathan Jara-Aucupina, 27, who is charged with the murder of his common-law wife Lizzbeth Aleman-Popoca, a 27-year-old East Haven mother whose body was recovered July 15 from a shallow grave in Branford after going missing on July 1.
The Dec. 27 announcement, made by Chief of Police Ed Lennon this morning in front of the East Haven Police Department (EHPD), marks the resolution of an almost six-month investigation. Jara-Aucupina is being held on $2 million bond and faces arraignment at New Haven Superior Court tomorrow, Dec. 28.
Aleman-Popoca’s disappearance was first reported by her family on July 3. Jara-Acupina stated he received a phone call from their seven-year-old daughter while he was at work telling him that her mother was not home when she woke up. Upon his arrival to the family home, 4 St. Andrews Avenue, East Haven, Jara-Aucupina reported finding his daughter at home alone, and Aleman-Popoca missing. He further reported finding most of her personal belongings left behind.
Lennon described that story as an outright fabrication.
“In short, Jara-Aucupina concocted a story that Lizzbeth had ran off when he knew she was already dead. He had used this story to lie to her family, to her loved ones, and eventually law enforcement. Her family basically forced him to report her missing,” Lennon stated. “After this initial missing persons report, Jara-Aucupina continued to lie to investigators and also tried to conceal where he had buried her.”
East Haven Police Captain Joe Murgo said late on July 15 that his department’s missing person investigation led to the rear parking lot of LoMonaco’s Ristorante Italiano at 990 West Main Street in Branford, where officers found an area of disturbed dirt behind the Dumpster area.
The Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad responded and located human remains buried in a shallow grave, according to Murgo.
In September, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Connecticut James Gill, M.D. ruled the death a homicide with the cause of death being “homicidal asphyxia.”
“Lizzbeth was a vibrant mother, daughter, and sister and leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter,” Lennon stated at the Dec. 27 press conference. “This daughter, in one act of domestic violence, will live the rest of her life without her mom. That’s not how any child should have to grow up. The father will no longer have a daughter, and the sister will no longer have her sister and best friend.
“I sincerely hope that todays arrest will begin the path for justice that Lizzbeth and her family ultimately deserve after a senseless act of domestic violence was perpetuated against her,” he said.
Lennon described the lengthy investigation in which few details were shared publicly as “frustrating.”
“If we had discussed this case, we were concerned that certain details would have compromised evidence and some details were only known by Jara-Aucupina,” Lennon said.
Jara-Aucupina was taken into custody without incident by EHPD officers.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of the arrestee.