FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 2020
NOVEMBER DEATH OF WEST NEW YORK WOMAN DETERMINED TO BE A HOMICIDE; GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT INCLUDING CHARGES OF MURDER AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On January 29, 2020, a Hudson County Grand Jury returned an Indictment against Edwin Velasco-Salazar, age 22, of West New York, charging him with four counts related to the November 1, 2019 death and alleged sexual assault of Irma Contreras Flores in West New York. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be compression of the neck and the manner of death to be homicide. Velasco-Salazar is expected to be arraigned on the Indictment at a date to be determined in February.
The Indictment charges Velasco-Salazar with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, a first-degree crime; Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2, a second-degree crime; Felony Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, a first-degree crime; and Endangering an Injured Victim in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2, a third-degree crime.
On November 1, 2019, at approximately 3:40 a.m., members of the West New York Police Department responded to 214 63rd Street in West New York on reports of an unconscious woman. Upon arrival, West New York Police Officers discovered an unresponsive female in the vestibule area at that location.
The female was identified as Irma Contreras Flores, age 32, of West New York. She was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen and was pronounced dead at approximately 4:20 a.m.
On Monday, November 4, 2019, following the preliminary investigation, members of the Prosecutor’s Office arrested Velasco-Salazar and initially charged him with Aggravated Assault, Sexual Assault, and Endangering an Injured Victim. Velasco-Salazar was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny where he has been in custody since his arrest. He was ordered detained on November 13, 2019.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit with the investigation and the West New York Police Department for assisting with the investigation.
The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).