More Details Emerge In Greenwich Suitcase Homicide Case

GREENWICH, CT — The 24-year-old suspect in the gruesome killing of New Rochelle resident Valerie Reyes, is a citizen of Portugal who had overstayed his Visa and will face deportation in the future, according to Rachael Yong Yow, spokesperson for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"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," wrote Yong Yow in a message to Patch. "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."

The Hour writes that Da Silva also had a Venezuelan passport, according to federal officials.

Da Silva, 24, was arrested Monday night at the Flushing, NY condo where he resides. Reyes, who Da Silva is accused of binding and gagging, was found in a suitcase on the side of Glenville Road in Greenwich.

He told police detectives that the 24-year-old victim "fell to the floor and hit her head" before he tied her up, gagged her and placed her body in a suitcase, according to federal prosecutors.

Da Silva claimed Reyes hit her head after the two had sex at her New Rochelle home. When her body was discovered, she showed "obvious signs of head trauma including bruising around the face and a large hematoma" on her forehead, according to prosecutors.

Reyes and Da Silva had dated, but she had ended the relationship about a year before her death, prosecutors said. She had been reported missing by her family and current boyfriend on Jan. 30.

Da Silva became a suspect when he used Reyes' debit card to withdraw cash, according to prosecutors.

Services for Reyes were held on Wednesday morning at St. Gabriel's Church in New Rochelle.

Photo of Valerie Reyes via Greenwich Police Department and Facebook

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