An illegal immigrant, Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the tragic slaying of Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza on her 21st birthday. The incident occurred on June 18, where Chacaguasay-Ilbis admitted to strangling Toaquiza and burying her body in the woods.
As part of the plea deal, Judge Ted Limpert agreed to sentence Chacaguasay-Ilbis to a maximum of 25 years to life in prison. Both the victim and the perpetrator were in the U.S. illegally, hailing from Ecuador and having known each other since primary school.
According to sources, Chacaguasay-Ilbis was staying at an Airbnb at the time of the murder and had traveled to see Toaquiza on her birthday. Surveillance footage captured the pair entering the Airbnb together, with Chacaguasay-Ilbis later seen carrying Toaquiza's body on his back.
After committing the crime, Chacaguasay-Ilbis buried Toaquiza in a shallow grave in Lincoln Park before fleeing to New York City via a Greyhound bus. He eventually turned himself in to the authorities, leading to the discovery of Toaquiza's body on June 22.
Chacaguasay-Ilbis had crossed the U.S. border into El Paso, Texas, in January 2023 but was released due to lack of space to hold him. Toaquiza, on the other hand, entered the country through Lukeville, Arizona, in June 2023, claiming to be fleeing an abusive partner.
The sentencing for Chacaguasay-Ilbis is set for February 14, as per online court records.
