A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection employee in California has pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of his wife.
Eddy Reyes, a 38-year-old resident of Covina, California, entered his plea in Los Angeles to one count of kidnapping resulting in death. This shocking crime took place in 2016 and has left the community in shock.
Eddy Reyes met his wife, Claudia Sanchez Reyes, in El Salvador in 2014. The couple got married and eventually moved to Southern California, where they resided in Santa Ana.
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However, their relationship was marred by a history of domestic abuse, with Claudia obtaining temporary restraining orders against Eddy in both 2014 and 2016.
The Kidnapping and Murder
In 2016, Eddy Reyes suspected his wife of having an extramarital affair, which led him to plan a heinous crime. He contacted his estranged half-brother, known only as P.O., who was a former gang member and gravedigger in El Salvador.
Together, they orchestrated the kidnapping and murder of Claudia.
On May 6, 2016, Eddy called Claudia while she was at work and told her he wanted to take her out to dinner. He rented a Hyundai Santa Fe, which he presented to Claudia as a gift.
However, instead of going out to eat, Eddy drove Claudia to his mother’s house in Orange, California.
Once inside the garage, P.O., who had been hiding in the back of the vehicle, emerged and attacked Claudia.
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He struck her multiple times and used a seatbelt to strangle her to death. Eddy assisted in disposing of the body, pushing it into the back seat and eventually into the cargo area of the Hyundai.
The Cover-up
To cover up their heinous crime, Eddy turned off Claudia’s cell phone and drove to their Santa Ana apartment.
He then turned the phone back on and impersonated Claudia, sending text messages to her co-worker and a paralegal involved in her divorce case, stating that she would not be attending work and that their services were no longer needed.
Pretending to be Claudia, P.O. also sent a text message to Claudia’s mother in El Salvador, claiming that she was leaving her husband and abandoning their son to be with another man in New York.
The messages were calculated to throw off suspicion and create the appearance that Claudia had willingly disappeared.
Investigation and Arrest
Four days after Claudia’s disappearance, Eddy filed a missing person report with the authorities. Detectives from the Santa Ana Police Department began an investigation, speaking to Claudia’s co-workers who had heard her arguing with Eddy before he picked her up on the night of the kidnapping.
During the investigation, detectives discovered a drop of Claudia’s blood in the rented SUV and a cadaver dog indicated that a dead body had been in the vehicle.
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Despite extensive efforts, Claudia’s body has never been recovered.
The evidence collected by the police led to Eddy’s arrest. He admitted to his involvement in the crime and pleaded guilty to the charge of kidnapping resulting in death.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Eddy Reyes appeared in court in Los Angeles to enter his guilty plea. The charge he faces carries the potential for the death penalty or life in federal prison without parole.
However, as part of a plea agreement, the government has agreed not to seek a sentence greater than 30 years. If Reyes provides information leading to the recovery of Claudia’s remains, prosecutors will lower their recommendation to 25 years.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 2, where the judge will determine the appropriate punishment for Eddy Reyes. The community remains hopeful that justice will be served for Claudia and her grieving family.
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