Victim Was Beaten, Strangled, Stabbed
Three South American men were indicted for allegedly beating, strangling and stabbing a Salvadoran national.
On February 18, Suffolk County Police discovered the body of Candido Guadalupe Saravia Martinez inside a tent on the side of Suffolk Avenue, just east of Carleton Avenue in Central Islip. Saravia Martinez, 39, was found with a rope tied around his neck, under which ligature marks were visible and police observed that he appeared to have blunt force trauma to his face and a stab wound to his neck. Each of the defendants — Brayan Heredia Escobar, 19, of Guatemala, Jhon Lopez Campos, 18, of El Salvador, and Julio Beltran, 39, of El Salvador — as well as the victim, are believed to have been living undomiciled in Central Islip.
Inside the tent, police recovered a machete, and a knife covered in blood, lying on top of Saravia Martinez’ neck. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that the victim died of a combination of blunt force trauma, strangulation, and a stab wound to the neck that lacerated his carotid artery.
Video surveillance was obtained from several businesses on Suffolk Avenue, including a laundromat located directly across the street from where Saravia Martinez’ body was found. The extensive surveillance allegedly depicts the three defendants, running from the tent after the murder and entering the laundromat.
On March 18, Heredia Escobar was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins for second-degree murder. Collins ordered Escobar remanded during the pendency of the case. Escobar is due back in court on March 27 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
On March 19, Lopez Campos was arraigned on the indictment before Collins for second-degree murder. Collins ordered Lopez Campos remanded during the pendency of the case. Lopez Campos is due back in court on April 23 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
On March 24, Beltran was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Collins for second-degree murder. Collins ordered Beltran remanded during the pendency of the case. Beltran is due back in court on April 10 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.
“This alleged murder was brutal,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “We will not tolerate such violence in Suffolk County. Violence such as is alleged here affects us all, and we remain dedicated to holding these offenders responsible for their actions.”