Say He Murdered, Robbed M.V. Man
Detectives collared a Manhattan man early last Thursday, Feb. 14, for allegedly strangling a Middle Village man to death with a shirt inside an Elmhurst motel room five days earlier, law enforcement sources stated.
Police identified the suspect as 23-year-old Lleuyel Garcia of Vermilyea Avenue in the Inwood section of Manhattan, who was booked for the Feb. 9 strangulation death and robbery of 54-year-old Joseph Benzinger of 64th Road at the Crown Motor Inn on Queens Boulevard.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, both men were known to each other and previ-
–CONTINUED FROM PG. 9- ously involved in a sexual relationship.
Garcia remains in custody without bail after being arraigned in Queens Criminal Court last Thursday before Judge John Zoll on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown noted that the suspects faces up to 25 years to life behind bars if convicted.
“His alleged actions are incomprehensible, and if true, should result in [Garcia] spending the rest of his life in prison,” Brown said in a statement last Thursday.
Reportedly, Garcia allegedly killed Benzinger at the Crown Motor Inn located at 74-01 Queens Blvd. during the evening hours of Feb. 9. Police said the suspect allegedly used a shirt to fatally choke the victim.
The criminal complaint noted that Garcia allegedly took Benzinger’s wallet-which contained the victim’s ATM card-and cell phone and fled from the scene.
A short time later, it was reported, the suspect-using Benzinger’s PIN, which he allegedly obtained earlier- was captured on surveillance cameras withdrawing money from two different ATMs.
Officers from the 110th Precinct and EMS units responded to the Crown Motor Inn at around 11 p.m. on the night of Feb. 9 after Benzinger’s body was discovered. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation was conducted by the 110th Precinct Detective Squad.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kristin J. Papadopoulos of the D.A.’s Homicide Investigations Bureau, which is supervised by Assistant District Attorneys Peter T. Reese, bureau chief, and Peter J. McCormack III, deputy bureau chief.
