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Police Arrest Boyfriend of Jamaica Woman Found Dead With Severe Burns

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | November 5, 2015 2:11pm
 Police are looking to question Carlos Leon, also known as Carlos Alvarado.
Police are looking to question Carlos Leon, also known as Carlos Alvarado.
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NYPD

QUEENS — Police arrested the boyfriend of a 28-year-old woman who was found dead in her bathtub with severe burns in downtown Jamaica last month.

The man was nabbed in Miami, wearing the same clothes he wore on the day his girlfriend was killed, police sources said.

Miriam Velez-Samayoa's body was discovered on Oct. 17, about 4 a.m. inside her third floor apartment on 90th Avenue, near 148th Street, after police responded to "a 911 call of a possible assault in progress," authorities said.

The victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was found with severe burns all over her body after an accelerant was used to set her on fire, police officials said.

Her live-in boyfriend, Carlos Leon, was caught in Miami on Oct. 20, as first reported by the New York Daily News Wednesday.

Police sources said they were able to find Leon, also known as Carlos Alvarado, by tracking his girlfriend’s phone which he had with him. He appeared to be homeless, sources said.

Investigators believe Leon got to Miami by bus, sources said.

The couple, who had been dating for about 7 months, was planning to fly to Guatemala to take care of Velez-Samayoa's ailing mother on the same morning she was found dead. Leon was supposed to get the tickets, but sources said he never purchased them.

The victim was not aware of it and had her luggage ready for the trip, sources said.

The couple’s roommates told police they were not aware of any problems between Velez-Samayoa and her boyfriend.

Police also said there was no domestic violence history between them.

Authorities said that as far as they know, Leon, who had no job and used to hang out inside the apartment most of the time, did not have any prior arrests.

Leon is currently held on arson charges, sources said, and is awaiting to be extradited, which could take up to 30 days.

The Medical Examiner's office still has not ruled the case a homicide because "the cause and manner of death are pending further studies at this time," spokeswoman Julie Bolcer said.

Police said that additional charges are halted until the ME's determination.