SYRACUSE, NY — In a heart-wrenching case that has left a family and community searching for answers, a young man from upstate New York has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for the murder of a childhood friend. Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, will spend 23 years to life behind bars after pleading guilty to strangling Joselyn Toaquiza during a private birthday gathering in mid-June.
Surveillance footage provided in the Chacaguasay-Ilbis case captured by a security camera at an Airbnb in Syracuse showed Chacaguasay-Ilbis entering the short-term rental with Toaquiza, 21, and later leaving with her deceased body.
According to prosecutors, Chacaguasay-Ilbis admitted to strangling Toaquiza using an undisclosed object before transporting her to a nearby park, where he buried the 21-year-old woman in a shallow grave.
During Monday’s sentencing, Onondaga County Judge Ted Limpert expressed deep concern over the lack of a clear motive for the brutal act. Toaquiza’s body was discovered four days after the murder in Lincoln Park, leaving authorities and the victim’s family struggling to comprehend the senseless tragedy.
Chacaguasay-Ilbis’s history with Toaquiza dates back to their childhood, though the circumstances of their recent contact remain unclear. Post-murder, he used Toaquiza’s credit cards for personal purchases, including a subscription, and it was revealed he had entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador in 2022. These details emerged as part of the prosecution’s narrative during the trial.
In a courtroom statement, Toaquiza’s family, speaking through a Spanish interpreter, firmly stated they would never forgive Chacaguasay-Ilbis for his actions. Their grief and perplexity were evident as they questioned how he could live with the burden of having taken an innocent life.
Expressing remorse, Chacaguasay-Ilbis apologized to both families and to his friends, acknowledging the pain he caused and taking responsibility for his actions. However, he failed to provide an explanation for his devastating deed.
A GoFundMe campaign initiated last year highlighted Toaquiza’s impact on her community and aimed to facilitate her return to Ecuador for burial. The funds allowed her family to lay her to rest with the dignity she deserved.
Chacaguasay-Ilbis’s sentencing came as part of a plea agreement that capped his prison term at 25 years to life. Despite the legal closure, the emotional repercussions of this crime continue to ripple through those who knew and loved Toaquiza.