Queens Man Arrested; Confessed to Killing Valerie Reyes, Kidnapping Victim from her New Rochelle Home, Police Say

Written By: Robert Cox

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Javier de Silva, 33, of 42-55 Colden Street, Flushing, Queens, has confessed to the abduction and murder of Valerie Reyes, according to New Rochelle police.

UPDATE: Javier de Silva, a dual-citizen of Portugal and Venezuela, was in the United States on an expired visa, sources tell Talk of the Sound. Including the brutal murder of a woman last July, this is the second homicide of a New Rochelle resident involving an illegal alien in six months. Both New York City where Javier da Silva resided and New Rochelle where Jose Olmos resided are sanctuary cities.

RELATED: New Rochelle Armory Murder Suspect, an Illegal Alien from Mexico, Deported Twice, Came Back a Third Time

Detectives from the New Rochelle and Greenwich Police Departments developed a suspect in the Homicide of Valerie Reyes and on Monday this suspect was located and taken into custody in Flushing, Queens. 

De Silva was interviewed at New Rochelle Police Department headquarters where police obtained a full and complete confession regarding the fraudulent ATM bank withdrawals and culminating in the kidnapping/homicide of Valerie Reyes from her 34 Colonial Place residence.   

Agents from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Representatives of the US Attorney’s Office were at the scene of da Silva’s capture. It was determined that the subject would be prosecuted Federally.  

Javier de Silva was kept overnight at NRPD headquarters. He has been be picked up by the FBI for arraignment in Federal Court.

Federal search warrants have been executed in Queens.

UPDATE: Statement by Greenwich Police Captain Robert Berry:

New Rochelle Police Detectives, accompanied by Greenwich Police Detectives, arrested a suspect in New York who had fraudulently used the ATM card of homicide victim Valerie Reyes. The arrested individual is also believed to be involved in the death of Valerie. Additional information on the suspect and charges will be released by the New Rochelle Police Department. We are confident that the pursuit of justice for Valerie will be successful and we continue to work with the family to provide closure to this tragedy.

UPDATE: NRPD confirms da Silva in Federal custody. NRPD waiting on the Feds before releasing their statement.

UPDATE: NRPD Statement on Arrest of Javier da Silva.

On January 30th, New Rochelle resident, Valerie Reyes, aged 24, was reported missing from her home by family members. The family member reported that they had last heard from Ms. Reyes on January 28th. The New Rochelle Police Department initiated a missing persons investigation into her disappearance.

On February 5th, the Greenwich, Connecticut Police Department reported that they had recovered the body of a young woman in their jurisdiction. This woman was subsequently identified as Valerie Reyes. The Greenwich Police Department, assisted by the New Rochelle Police Department, initiated an investigation into her death.

During this joint investigation, detectives identified a possible suspect in the homicide. On Monday February 11th, detectives of both police departments located this suspect in at his residence in Flushing, Queens.

He was taken into custody and brought to New Rochelle Police Headquarters.

Members of the F.B.I. Safe Street Task Force were contacted due to the interstate aspect of this case, and joined in the investigation. It was determined that the suspect will be charged criminally under Federal Statutes and was subsequently released to the custody of the FBI. It is anticipated that he will be arraigned today in Federal Court and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York.   

Statement from Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr., the Westchester County District Attorney, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Joseph F. Schaller, Commissioner of the New Rochelle Police Department, and James J. Heavey, Town of Greenwich Chief of Police

Individual Charged In White Plains With Murder Of 24-Year-Old Victim

Javier Enrique Da Silva Roja (the “defendant” or “Da Silva”), who was charged by complaint with the kidnapping of Valerie Reyes (the “Victim”) in New Rochelle, New York, and unlawfully transporting her to Greenwich, Connecticut. The defendant was arrested in Flushing, Queens, on February 11, 2019, and was presented in White Plains federal court before the U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith today.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, Javier Da Silva is charged with committing a gruesome kidnapping that resulted in the death of a young woman.Thanks to the excellent work of the FBI and its local law enforcement partners, Da Silva will need to answer for his alleged actions in court.”

“From the start of this investigation into the death of Valerie Reyes, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office has worked closely with Greenwich and New Rochelle Police Departments and the Connecticut State’s Attorney.  The Assistant District Attorney and investigators assigned to the case worked tirelessly in an effort to bring swift justice for the victim of this horrendous crime and her family here in Westchester,” District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, including the FBI and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, to ensure the strength of the case.”

“Together with our partners from the Greenwich and New Rochelle Police Departments, we were able to swiftly identify Javier Da Silva, an alleged murderer, and place him behind bars,” said FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. “But while today’s arrest is certainly a welcome conclusion, it in no way alleviates the pain and suffering Valerie’s family will continue to feel for years to come. The reality of their situation is utterly unimaginable, as is the crime with which Da Silva is charged.”

“The arrest of Javier Da Silva is a result of the outstanding work and cooperation between members of the New Rochelle Police Department, the Greenwich Police Department, and the F.B.I. Safe Streets Task Force,” said New Rochelle Deputy Police Chief Robert Gazzola. “This was a complicated case, and the efforts of the members who worked tirelessly on it should be applauded. I hope that this arrest will bring some degree of closure to the family of Valerie Reyes.”

“From the moment Valerie was found in Greenwich, detectives from New Rochelle and Greenwich have worked tirelessly pursuing multiple investigative leads,” said Town of Greenwich Chief of Police James J. Heavey. “We are pleased that this investigation and subsequent prosecution may bring justice for Valerie and some level of peace to her family. The New Rochelle and Greenwich communities can be proud of the collaborative work of their detectives and how they brought this investigation to a successful conclusion.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed in White Plains federal court, on or about January 30, 2019, the Victim was reported missing to the New Rochelle Police Department by her mother, father, and boyfriend.  A few days later, on or about February 5, 2019, her body was recovered in a suitcase alongside a public road in the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Da Silva, 24, of Flushing, Queens, is charged with one count of kidnapping resulting in death, which carries a sentence of death or life in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, the FBI New Haven Division, the New Rochelle Police Department, the Greenwich Police Department, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, and the Westchester County Real Time Crime Center.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Mathew Andrews and Sam Adelsberg are in charge of the prosecution.

Da Silva was charged with one federal count, Kidnapping Resulting in Death. He is being held without bond and is expected back in Federal Court in White Plains next month.

javier-da-silva-19mj1458_complaint.pdf

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Statement:

Javier Enrique Da Silva Rojas, a citizen of Portugal, entered the U.S. May 8, 2017, through the Visa Waiver Program; however, he failed to leave the United States within the required timeframe. He was arrested by federal authorities on felony kidnapping charges Feb. 12 and is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) pending criminal proceedings. ICE lodged a detainer with USMS Feb. 13. Pursuant to the detainer, ICE will aim to take custody of Da Silva for immediate removal when he is released from criminal custody.

RELATED:

Federal Complaint Lays Out Gruesome Timeline in Apparent Rape, Abduction and Murder by Suffocation of New Rochelle Woman

6 thoughts on “Queens Man Arrested; Confessed to Killing Valerie Reyes, Kidnapping Victim from her New Rochelle Home, Police Say”

  1. Do you have a link to the Federal Judicial website where we can follow this case? Do you know the name of the attorney/ firm representing him?

    1. As of yesterday he did not have his own attorney which would mean he had a court-appointed attorney for the arraignment.

      You can “follow” any federal court case on PACER. Google is your friend.

  2. Mr. Cox,
    Reporting on this news is very important for this community, especially those who knew the victim personally, but with all due respect, including an “update” regarding the killers immigration status does not only allow this article to push an anti-immigration perspective, but it is also highly disrespectful to those living in harmony with many “illegal aliens” in this community. While on that note, this sanctuary community finds that term incorrect, instead we refer to them as undocumented individuals. Your explicit bias devalues the credibility of your outlet and defocuses the fact which is this: a bad man killed an innocent women. Violence against women is a trend that is highly more important to look into and relevant to this community, had you decided to lean your bias towards something worth while. Had you known anything about your audience you’d understand how disrespectful that update is, especially the victims personal acquantencies. I hope this serves as a learning opportunity for yourself, that regardless your political views, language is very important. Thank you.

    1. It is a fact Javier da Silva is an illegal alien – he is a dual citizen of Portugal and Venezuela who overstayed his visa.
      He is not an “undocumented person”.

      He entered the USA legally – with a visa / passport.

  3. I don’t think the first line you read in this article should be his legal status. Why does it matter? Why are we focusing on that instead of her? All for some clout and to get people to bash immigrants more than they already do? Oh and using “illegal aliens” is highly offensive regardless of how or by who it’s used by.

    1. It is a fact Javier da Silva is an illegal alien – he is a dual citizen of Portugal and Venezuela who overstayed his visa.

      We were the first to report that which is why it was highlighted in the story. Every major media outlet has since reported this information. It IS a part of the story.

      He is not an “immigrant” or “illegal immigrant” or “undocumented worker”.

      He entered the USA legally. We have no information that he had a job.

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