Hunt Continues for Bronx Man Suspected of Torture and Murder After Gruesome Crime Shocks City

Hunt Continues for Bronx Man Suspected of Torture and Murder After Gruesome Crime Shocks City

New York, US: A chilling manhunt is underway in the Bronx after authorities identified Robert Strother, 27, as the primary suspect in the harrowing torture and murder of his 21-year-old girlfriend, Princesa Encarnacion-Soto. The case, branded as one of the most disturbing domestic crimes in recent Bronx memory, has left an entire city reeling and raised urgent questions about domestic violence and community safety.

The Shocking Discovery

On July 22, tragedy struck the Fordham Heights neighborhood when NYPD officers responded to grim reports from a Grand Concourse apartment complex. Inside a third-floor stairwell, they found Encarnacion-Soto unconscious, her body bearing chilling evidence of severe and deliberate brutality.

Paramedics raced her to BronxCare Health System, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. Investigators quickly identified a trail of blood leading back to Strother’s apartment—shared by the suspect, his girlfriend, and his 54-year-old mother, Naida Jorge. What unfolded inside led detectives to describe the scene as “an apartment of horrors.”

A Tale of Torture and Cover-Up

Law enforcement sources reported that Encarnacion-Soto endured unspeakable abuse in the days leading to her death. She was allegedly restrained, stabbed multiple times, and possibly beaten with a hammer. Disturbingly, investigators discovered evidence that some wounds—deep incisions on her thighs, upper arms, and shoulders—had begun to heal, indicating ongoing and repeated torture.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny detailed that the injuries were intended “not to kill, but to cause excruciating pain.” He further explained that Encarnacion-Soto was bound to the bed, with blood evidence implicating this as the epicenter of her suffering.

The apartment itself was in a deplorable state: filthy, smoke-stained, and covered in debris and grime. Even the building superintendent, familiar with tough jobs, reportedly refused to enter, describing conditions as “disgusting” and “uninhabitable.”

Family Ties and a Desperate Escape

Surveillance video released by NYPD provided the first clear image of Strother after the crime. Appearing “hulking,” bearded, and sporting red sweatpants and a sideways baseball cap, he was last seen fleeing the scene. Witnesses stated Strother stood around 6’2″ and weighed approximately 245 pounds, making his presence hard to miss.

As the citywide manhunt intensified, Strother’s mother became ensnared in the investigation. Naida Jorge was arrested and charged not only with hindering prosecution and concealing a corpse, but also with murder and manslaughter after evidence suggested she tried to meticulously scrub the crime scene. When authorities found Encarnacion-Soto, she was dressed in clean clothing, with no immediate traces of blood—an ominous sign that the body had been handled post-mortem.

At her arraignment, prosecutors described Jorge’s actions as a calculated effort to help her son elude justice, and she was ordered held without bail. Her attorney insisted she was a long-standing law-abiding resident being wrongfully accused as an accessory rather than a participant, but the charge sheet painted a darker picture.

Troubling Signs and Unanswered Questions

Neighbours painted a background of volatility in the household. Jorge, a decades-long resident, was described as protective to a fault of her aggressive son—one tenant claimed, “He beat up his mother a couple of times. She doesn’t call the police… she covers for him a lot.”

Authorities also revealed a disturbing 911 call months prior, in which Strother allegedly concocted a false rape story—possibly to mask visible injuries on Encarnacion-Soto that required medical care. Police now believe this was a desperate attempt to cover up ongoing abuse.

Community on Edge as Manhunt Presses On

More than a week after the grisly discovery, the NYPD continues a relentless search for Strother. Officers are canvassing neighborhoods, reviewing security footage, and following up on tips as city residents remain on high alert.

The ongoing investigation has sparked conversations citywide about domestic violence awareness, bystander intervention, and the urgent need to address warning signs before abuse escalates into tragedy.

Remembering the Victim

Originally from Rhode Island, Encarnacion-Soto had only moved into the Bronx apartment days before her death, hoping to start a new chapter. Friends and family remember her as a kind soul whose life was stolen far too soon. Vigils have sprung up in her honor, as the community demands justice and accountability after such a devastating loss.

What Happens Next

Naida Jorge is due back in court on August 18, while the NYPD encourages anyone with information about Strother’s whereabouts to come forward. As the search continues, many Bronx residents are left grappling with the trauma of this violent crime and the chilling realization that danger sometimes lurks where it is least expected.

The city watches, waits, and hopes for closure as the case continues to unfold.

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