EDITOR’S NOTE: Readers may find the details of the case described in the complaint disturbing.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — In a Complaint presented earlier today to United States Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith in the United States Court of the Southern District of New York in White Plains in the matter of United States of America v. Javier Enrique Da Silva Rojas, a/k/a “Javier Da Silva”, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agen Daniel McKenna submitted a sworn statement in which he described the events that led up to the arrest of Javier Da Silva on February 11, 2018
On January 28, 2019, Javier Da Silva kidnapped Valerie Reyes in New Rochelle, New York, bound her feet and hands, placed packing tape over her mouth, put her in a suitcase, and transported her to Greenwich, Connecticut, where he disposed of her body, resulting in the death of the Victim.
On or about January 30, 2019, at approximately 2:43 p.m., Valerie Reyes was reported missing to the New Rochelle Police Department by her mother, father, and boyfriend.
On or about February 5, 2019, public works personnel located a red suitcase near Glenville Road and Stillman Lane in the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut. Public works personnel unzipped the suitcase and found a deceased female inside. Public works personnel subsequently contacted law enforcement, who responded to the scene.
Upon inspecting the suitcase, law enforcement officers found a deceased female in her 20-30s with shoulder length black hair. The female was barefoot with an unbuttoned shirt and denim jeans. She was bound at the feet and knees, and her hands were bound behind her back with what appeared to be white twine and packing tape. There was also packing tape over her mouth and chin. There were obvious signs of head trauma including bruising around the face and a large hematoma to the deceased female’s forehead. At the time law enforcement discovered the body, the deceased female was in the early stages of decomposition with mottling around her hands and feet.
On February 6, 2019, an assistant medical examiner conducted an autopsy on the deceased female and found the cause of death to be a homicide. The Victim’s father and brother positively identified the deceased female as the Victim the same day.
On January 29, 2019, at approximately 5 a.m., Valerie Reyes’ debit card was used at an ATM at a bank branch in a location in New Rochelle, New York identified in the complaint as “Bank Branch-1 ATM” to withdraw approximately $1,000.
Video from a City of New Rochelle pole camera located in the area of Bank Branch-1 and my review of footage from the Bank Branch-1 ATM, I know that on or about January 29, 2019 at approximately 5 a.m., a black Honda CR-V pulled up toward Bank Branch-1 and parked across the street in a neighboring parking lot. An individual exited the vehicle, crossed the street, and entered the Bank Branch-1 vestibule. The individual, who appears to be male, wore a black hooded sweatshirt over his head, dark pants, and black sneakers with white soles. The individual then exited Bank Branch-1, entered the Honda, and drove westbound.
New Rochelle city cameras observed the path taken by the Honda from the Bank Branch-1 ATM.
On January 29, 2019, at approximately 6:27 a.m., a 2017 Honda CR-V vehicle, color black with a specific license plate identified in the complaint as the “License Plate” was read by a license plate reader located at the intersection of North Avenue at Lincoln Avenue in New Rochelle, New York.
The black Honda CR-V is registered to a Rental Car Company with an address in Flushing, New York
On February 9, 2019, a law enforcement officer contacted the Rental Car Company. A representative from the Rental Car Company stated that the Flushing Address was also a rental location for a car sharing company. Law enforcement contacted the Car Sharing Company’s regional security director who confirmed that the Honda was located in the Car Sharing Company parking lot at the Flushing Address. The regional security director further stated that the Honda was rented by Person-1 from January 28 through January 29, 2019. Person-1 is the holder of an account at the Car Sharing Company. Javier Da Silva is an authorized user on Person-l’s Car Sharing account.
The Car Sharing Company account records listed an apartment in a condominium building in Flushing, New York as the address of Javier Da Silva
A review of images from surveillance cameras located at the Flushing Condominium, law enforcement determined that on January 28, 2019, Javier Da Silva left the Flushing Condominium at approximately 10:50 p.m., wearing a black hooded sweatshirt over his head, dark pants, and black sneakers with white soles. Javier Da Silva’s clothing matches that of the unknown individual
who was captured in bank surveillance footage using Valerie Reyes’ debit card on or January 29, 2019. Additionally, on the next day, at approximately 9:43 a.m., the video shows Javier Da Silva returning to the Flushing Condominium wearing a long tan coat and carrying a duffel bag. Javier Da Silva left the Flushing Condominium without the duffel bag, several minutes later.
On February 6, 2019, a review of images from surveillance cameras located at the Flushing Address of the Car Sharing Company, shows that rented the Honda from the Car Sharing Company. Surveillance cameras located at the Flushing Address parking lot depict Javier Da Silva returning the Honda to the same parking lot later the same day.
Valerie Reyes’ family members told law enforcement that Reyes had dated an individual named “Javier” but that the Reyes had ended the relationship approximately one year before.
Law enforcement officers searched Reyes’ home in New Rochelle, New York on February 5, 2019. During the search, the officers found a drawing of an unidentified individual. Based on a review of a social media account appearing to belong to Javier Da Silva, the drawing located in Reyes’ home appears to be identical to the profile picture for the social media account in Javier Da Silva’s name.
On February 11, 2019, officers from the Greenwich Police Department and the New Rochelle Department arrested Javier Da Silva based on probable cause for the crime of larceny based on his use of Reyes’ debit card.
On February 12, 2019, Javier Da Silva was interviewed at the New Rochelle Police Department. Javier Da Silva was Mirandized in Spanish. He then waived his Miranda rights and stated that on January 29, 2019, he had sex with Reyes’ at Reyes’ home. Javier Da Silva stated that at some point Reyes’ fell to the floor and hit her head. Javier Da Silva stated he then placed packing tape over her mouth, bound her legs and hands and put her in a suitcase. He then said that he placed the suitcase in his car and drove away. After driving for some time, Javier Da Silva stated that he placed the suitcase in a forest.
Federal Complaint:
javier-da-silva-19mj1458_complaint.pdf