PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT
CASE NO. HM-0024-14-05
WARRANT NO. 0415-W2014-000962
On Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at approximately 1 pm, the Gloucester Township Police Department was called to111 Austin Avenue in Glendora, New Jerseyfor a report of a deceased female. Upon their arrival, officers discovered the body of 21-year-old Rebecca Ugarte, who was located in the basement of the home, covered in blankets with a bra and a cell phone charger cord wrapped around her neck. She appeared to be deceased. She was pronounced deceased via telemetry by Dr. Krasniak of VirtuaHospital in Voorhees, New Jersey.
Later that same day, Dr. Gerald Feigin of the Camden County Medical Examiners Office performed a post mortem examination. Dr. Feigin determined that the cause of Ms. Ugarte’s death was blunt force trauma to her neck and ruled the manner of her death to be homicide.
Homicide detectives interviewed Vivian Santos, the homeowner of 111 Austin Avenue. Ms. Santos advised detectives that Ms. Ugarte had been staying at her home with Joshua Rivera Santos, who is her son. Also staying in the home was A.R., the 4 year old daughter of Mr. Santos and Ms. Ugarte. Ms. Santos advised detectives that on the morning of May 27th, at approximately 6:50 am, Mr. Santos entered her bedroom and asked if he could put A.R. in Ms. Santos’s bed. Mr. Santos then also got in the bed, at which time he held his mother’s hand. Ms. Santos remained in bed with her son and granddaughter until approximately 7 am, at which time she arose and prepared to go to work.
Ms. Santos queried her son regarding the whereabouts of Ms. Ugarte, and Mr. Santos advised her that Ms. Ugarte had gone out with her sisters. Ms. Santos advised detectives that she thought this was unusual because Ms. Ugarte’s car was still in the driveway. Ms. Santos looked in the basement and thought she saw Ms. Ugarte sleeping on the floor wrapped in blankets that were normally in the bedroom of Joshua Rivera Santos.
Ms. Santos advised homicide detectives that she returned home later that same day at approximately 12 pm. She again questioned her son, Joshua Rivera Santos, regarding the whereabouts of Ms. Ugarte. When Mr. Santos repeated his story that Ms. Ugarte was out with her sisters, Ms. Santos told him she thought Ms. Ugarte was in the basement. Ms. Santos stated that her son’s face “changed,” and they went down into the basement together, at which time Ms. Santos removed the blankets from Ms. Ugarte, who was obviously deceased. According to Ms. Santos, she asked Mr. Santos what he had done to Ms. Ugarte, and Mr. Santos answered that he didn’t know.
Homicide detectives interviewed Joshua Rivera Santos. Mr. Santos repeatedly stated that he had no memory of what might have occurred to Ms. Ugarte. During the interview, detectives noticed that Mr. Santos had red marks on the back of his hands and scratches on his chest. These injuries were photographed.
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