In a deeply disturbing case from New York City, a 27-year-old man and his mother have been arrested for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, 21-year-old Princesa Encarnacion-Soto. Police say the killing involved torture and was done inside the mother’s Bronx apartment.
What the Police Say Happened
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), Robert Strother is accused of tying up his girlfriend, torturing her, and eventually killing her at his mother’s home in the Bronx. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press conference that the injuries found on the young woman were “inflicted for pain, not to kill.”
He explained that Encarnacion-Soto had multiple slice marks on her body, especially on her thighs, upper arms, and shoulders. The injuries on her legs were fresh.
When police found her body on a staircase inside the building, there was no blood on her or on her clothes, which were clean. Investigators believe someone may have cleaned her body, changed her clothes, and then moved her.
Discovery of the Body
The police were called on July 22 to investigate an assault in progress at the apartment building on Grand Concourse. When they arrived, they found an unconscious woman with stab wounds. Emergency services took her to BronxCare Health System, but she was declared dead.
Court documents later revealed that Encarnacion-Soto was missing part of a knuckle and had cuts under her feet. She had also been stabbed and beaten with a hammer.
Arrest of the Suspects
Strother ran away after the murder and was found and arrested after a weeklong search. His 54-year-old mother, Naida Jorge, was arrested at the scene on the day of the incident. Both are now facing serious charges, including:
Murder
Manslaughter
Hindering prosecution
Tampering with evidence
Concealing a human body
Police believe Jorge not only allowed the killing to happen in her apartment but also helped her son clean up the crime scene. She is also accused of trying to help him escape from the police.
Victim’s Background and Past Abuse
Encarnacion-Soto had recently moved to New York from Rhode Island on July 11. She started living with Strother and his mother shortly after arriving. Sadly, her life ended just 11 days later.
Robert Strother has a long criminal record. Police confirmed that he had more than 20 past arrests for domestic violence, reported by other women.
Family’s Heartbreak
Encarnacion-Soto’s mother spoke to the media and shared her pain. “My heart is broken,” she said. “My little baby, my little everything is gone.”
This case has shocked the community and brought attention to the dangers of abusive relationships, especially when past violence is ignored or goes unchecked.
This tragic story is a painful reminder of the importance of taking domestic violence seriously. A young woman lost her life in the most brutal way, and her mother is left to mourn a daughter who had only just begun her adult life. The accused will now face justice in court, but nothing can undo the harm that’s already been done.
Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the mother’s involvement and whether any warning signs were missed before the tragedy.
