WHITE PLAINS — Earlier than he was sentenced to 30 years in jail, Javier Da Silva heard the phrases of the mom whose daughter he killed and later dumped on a wooded highway in Greenwich.
“A mom can by no means to face a horrible day like this,” Norma Sanchez, the mom of 24-year-old Valerie Reyes, advised Decide Vincent Bricetti in a White Plains, N.Y., federal courtroom earlier than the 30-year sentence was imposed Thursday.
Da Silva pleaded responsible in 2020 within the killing of Valerie Reyes, a bookstore employee and aspiring artist.
He admitted he went to her residence in New Rochelle, N.Y., in January 2019 and engaged in a violent confrontation that resulted in her dying. The 2 had dated for a number of months the 12 months earlier than. Federal prosecutors say Da Silva killed Reyes by inserting her in a suitcase certain in packing tape and cord. She died by asphyxiation.
Reyes’ physique was discovered by DPW employees in Greenwich who noticed the suitcase off the aspect of decrease Glenville Street. She had been reported lacking by her household within the days earlier than.
Sanchez on Thursday stated her daughter was a vibrant and loving girl who was adored by her three brothers.
“It might take a day to explain the enjoyment Valerie introduced into their lives, stated Sanchez, who was supported by her son, Sal, as she addressed the choose. “I can’t let you know sufficient.”
Sanchez stated her sons have been crushed by the lack of their sister, as was she.
“My boys are all heart-broken and devastated. … My boys wrestle to simply accept she is now not right here,” she stated. She advised the choose how she would name out her daughter’s title repeatedly whereas within the depths of despair following her killing.
Turning to deal with Da Silva, who was carrying a khaki jail outfit, and sobbing quietly, Sanchez referred to as him “a egocentric, grasping soulless individual.”
Talking to Da Silva, she stated, “I would like you to listen to the phrases of a mom who you devastated by taking away my child woman.” Her voice breaking with emotion, she stated he got here to Reyes’ residence “like an evil flood, stunning her in her peaceable place.”
“You deserve nothing however ache and rejection,” she stated. “Right now, I hope Valerie finds the justice she deserves.”
Da Silva, an immigrant from Venezuela who was dwelling in Queens, N.Y., on the time of the killing, addressed the choose earlier than his sentencing, talking Spanish translated into English by an interpreter.
“My acts induced Valerie’s dying, and I can by no means forgive myself for doing that,” he stated, his voice wracked with emotion. “It’s my fault that she’s not right here any longer. Valerie’s household deserves to know I’m sorry. … My phrases can by no means categorical how repulsed I’m by the acts I dedicated. I implore earlier than God, on my knees, that God will bless them and take away a few of their ache.”
Briccetti referenced the reviews from Da Silva’s protection attorneys that Da Silva was remorseful in regards to the killing, in addition to many letters written by his family and friends members who referred to as him a good and respectful individual, however the choose rebuffed requires a extra lenient sentence.
“Take a look at me,” Briccetti advised the defendant. “What you probably did to this girl was sickening. … Anybody who might do such a factor shouldn’t be a superb individual, by definition. Anybody who can do a factor like that’s an evil individual. Justice requires an evil deed be punished by a prolonged jail sentence.”
The choose highlighted the cruelty of the killing, in addition to how Da Silva profited from her dying, stealing cash from her checking account and buying and selling one in every of her digital gadgets for pc gear.
After Da Silva wrapped her face in packing tape, he positioned her in a suitcase, resulting in her dying by asphyxiation. He later withdrew 1000’s of {dollars} from her checking account and offered her digital gear. He drove to Greenwich and dumped the physique on Glenville Street, in accordance with his responsible plea. Da Silva took over $3,000 from her checking account, utilizing her debit card in New Rochelle and New York Metropolis.
Da Silva was arrested at his Queens, N.Y., residence on Feb. 12, 2019, with Greenwich police taking part in his apprehension. He pleaded responsible to at least one depend of kidnapping leading to dying in U.S. District Court docket in New York on Feb. 5, 2020.
Two Greenwich police detectives attended the sentencing, together with law-enforcement officers from different companies that labored on the case.
