Second Suspect Arrested in Connection with Mount Kisco Homicide

Mount Kisco resident Milton Ventura, 35, was arrested and charged with Manslaughter 1st Degree in connection to the beating death of Jose Sanchez in Mount Kisco, Westchester County Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth announced today.

Ventura is the second suspect arrested in connection to the Sanchez’s death, and he was taken into custody Tuesday by county police detectives and was formally charged late last night. He was scheduled to be arraigned at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Mount Kisco Justice Court.

According to county police, Ventura and Freddy Coronado-Mendez, 34, caused the death of Sanchez, 53, following an altercation in a wooded area off Lieto Drive on Saturday. Sanchez’ body was discovered the following day by a relative who alerted police.

An autopsy conducted by the Westchester Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Sanchez died of injuries caused by blunt force trauma. Sanchez, a native of Honduras, worked as a landscaper and had no permanent address.

At a press conference Tuesday, Commissioner Longworth said that detectives from the county police General Investigations Unit had quickly learned that Coronado-Mendez was involved in Sanchez’s death and that he had left the area by train. Detectives tracked him to Harrison, NJ, and took him into custody there. It is believed he was attempting to arrange to leave this region of the country. He is awaiting extradition back to New York.

Detectives also determined that others were likely present when the altercation occurred. Ventura was taken into custody in Mount Kisco based on information developed during the ongoing investigation.

“The Westchester County Police are grateful for the excellent cooperation we have received from the community during this investigation,” said Longworth in a statement.

PHOTO: Freddy Coronado-Mendez/Westchester County Police