SOUTH BRONX — The sex offender suspected of fatally beating a woman and hacking up her body has been officially charged with her murder.
Somorie Moses, 40, made a brief appearance at the Bronx County Hall of Justice on Thursday, but his case will move to Brooklyn going forward, where he has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 32-year-old Leondra Foster, officials said.
Her torso and leg were found in a Hunts Point trash facility at 287 Halleck St. on Jan. 17, but her head, hands and feet were then found in the freezer at Moses' home in Brooklyn on Saturday, according to police and court papers.
"We in Brooklyn will seek justice for Leondra Foster, who was so tragically and brutally murdered," Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. "Somorie Moses is now charged with second-degree murder for that heinous crime and is awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court.”
Moses had not been arraigned in Brooklyn as of mid-afternoon on Thursday, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
Several of Foster's family members appeared in court on Thursday for Moses' appearance, including her 30-year-old sister Shanicqua Figueroa.
She described her sister as a loving person who would never harm anyone and said it was very hard for her to see Moses in court on Thursday.
She said her sister and Moses were in an abusive relationship prior to her death, and she had never liked her sister's accused killer.
"He used to beat her up all the time. Black eyes, everything," she said. "I hope he gets life without parole and gets everything that’s coming to him."
Her mother, Sandra Figueroa, appeared in court as well and said she would be back for every court date, regardless of where the case was being held.
"I don’t care if it’s raining, snowing. I don’t care what the weather is, but I’m going to be there," she said. "Right now I’m really stuck for words. My heart is hurting."
