NEW YORK, NY – A 23-year-old man from New York City faces murder charges after allegedly admitting to the gruesome killing and dismemberment of his 65-year-old roommate over a disagreement about food.
Police took Christian Millet into custody after the discovery of Edwin Echevarria’s remains, which had been found dismembered inside a suitcase in the East River earlier this month. Authorities moved quickly to question Millet following the identification of the remains on February 5, leading to a chilling confession.
According to police, a warrant executed at the Baruch Houses, a New York City Housing Authority project where the two men lived, provided crucial evidence. Millet allegedly told officers that an argument over food escalated into violence.
He admitted to violently attacking Echevarria, stomping on his head and stabbing him multiple times with an ice pick. He then reportedly dismembered the body, placing parts of Echevarria into the suitcase and disposing of it in the river.
The suitcase discovery prompted a thorough police investigation, with more of Echevarria’s remains still being sought across the city. Millet’s relationship with Echevarria was initially that of a benefactor and dependent; Millet was the grandson of Echevarria’s ex-girlfriend and moved in with the victim as an act of kindness.
Jennifer Matthews, Echevarria’s daughter, shed light on the strained living arrangement. Speaking to local media, she recounted how her father had taken Millet in to help him but was later subjected to abuse. Matthews revealed that despite her warnings to her father, Millet had been allowed to return to live with Echevarria shortly before his disappearance.
Concerns grew when Echevarria ceased communication with his daughter. Missing persons posters listing his last sighting on February 2 hinted at the sinister turn of events. Millet’s arrest came on February 12, where he was formally charged with second-degree murder.
As the investigation proceeds, the community and family of Echevarria grapple with the horrific nature of the crime, seeking justice for a man whose act of kindness ended in tragedy.