By Ivan Pereira
FOREST PARK — A former Woodhaven man pleaded guilty in Queens Criminal Court Tuesday in the 2007 murder of his wife and mutilation of her corpse, the Queens district attorney said.
Edwin Fuentes, 44, is expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison for his manslaughter charge Nov. 9, Queens DA Richard Brown said.
Between June 19, 2007, and June 22, Fuetnes killed his 42-year-old wife, Reina De Los Santos Reyes, by choking her and later cut up her body and placed it in a suitcase, according to the DA.
He then placed the suitcase in Forest Park where it remained hidden until two joggers discovered it and Reyes’ remains March 4, Brown said.
Fuentes, a former butcher, initially called the police after the murder and reported that his wife was missing, the DA said.
An investigation discovered that Fuentes had threatened to kill his wife several times in the past and he lied about how he got scratch marks on his face following her disappearance, according to the DA.
As part of his plea deal, Fuentes will show police the location of the rest of his wife’s remains, Brown said.
