NEW YORK, NY – Authorities have arrested a Bronx man accused of joining forces with his mother to kill his girlfriend, following a weeklong search that ended with his capture last Saturday. The investigation centers on the death of 21-year-old Princesa Encarnacion-Soto, whose battered body was discovered inside the apartment building where her boyfriend and his mother lived.
Police responded to a 911 call reporting an assault in progress in the early morning hours of July 22 at an apartment building in the 2200 block of Grand Concourse. Upon arrival, officers found Encarnacion-Soto unconscious and unresponsive on a staircase. Emergency medical workers transported her to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Detectives reported that Encarnacion-Soto suffered numerous injuries consistent with torture. According to top officials, the wounds inflicted did not appear to be immediately fatal, and evidence suggested she had been bound and attacked while restrained. Authorities also noted slice marks on her thighs, upper arms, and shoulders, as well as evidence that her body had been cleaned and dressed in fresh clothing after the assault, indicating attempts to remove traces of the crime.
Further investigation revealed that a piece of one of Encarnacion-Soto’s knuckles was missing, and she sustained cuts under her feet—injuries police say were consistent with severe, prolonged physical abuse. In addition to being stabbed multiple times, officials believe Encarnacion-Soto was struck with a hammer during the deadly attack.
Law enforcement officials identified Robert Strother, 27, as the primary suspect and launched a citywide manhunt after he fled the scene. His mother, Naida Jorge, 54, was taken into custody at the scene. Both individuals now face charges including murder, manslaughter, hindering prosecution, concealment of a human corpse, and tampering with evidence.
Court documents allege that Jorge actively participated in both the killing and efforts to conceal the crime, reportedly assisting Strother during and after the fatal assault. Investigators believe Jorge helped clean the apartment and dressed Encarnacion-Soto’s body to hinder evidence gathering and obscure the nature of her injuries.
Encarnacion-Soto had recently relocated from Rhode Island to New York on July 11. She began living with Jorge and Strother, who is known to have a lengthy history of domestic violence allegations, with more than 20 reported incidents involving other women.
Family members of Encarnacion-Soto, devastated by her death, described her as the light of their lives. Her mother spoke of heartbreak and loss, mourning a daughter who had only recently begun a new chapter in New York before it was tragically cut short.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing as they work to piece together the motive and sequence of events leading up to Encarnacion-Soto’s death. Both Strother and Jorge remain in custody and are expected to face court proceedings in the coming weeks.