The Bronx community was shocked when news broke of the brutal murder of 21-year-old Princesa Encarnacion-Soto at the hands of her boyfriend, Robert Strother. The heinous crime took place in a Fordham Heights building on Grand Concourse, where the young woman had been staying with Strother and his mother, Naida Jorge. Encarnacion-Soto was found unconscious and unresponsive in a stairwell, with severe injuries that ultimately led to her death.
Strother, described as a 6-foot-2, 245-pound man, was caught on video pounding the pavement in his red sweatpants and baseball cap turned sideways. Despite an extensive manhunt by the NYPD, Strother remains at large, leaving the community on edge.
The investigation revealed a gruesome scene inside the apartment where the abuse took place. Encarnacion-Soto had been tied up, stabbed from head to toe, and possibly beaten with a hammer before being dumped in the stairwell. The wounds inflicted on her were believed to be for pain rather than to kill, with slice marks on her thighs, upper arms, and shoulders.
Police also arrested Strother’s mother, Naida Jorge, for allegedly assisting in cleaning up the crime scene. Jorge was charged with murder, manslaughter, hindering prosecution, and concealment of a human corpse. During her arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court, Judge Harold Bahr ordered her to be held without bail, citing her alleged involvement in covering up the murder.
Jorge’s lawyer argued that she has been a law-abiding citizen her entire life and questioned the extent of her involvement in the crime. He emphasized that the court filings did not provide many details connecting her to the brutal injuries inflicted on the victim.
As the investigation continues, the community awaits justice for Princesa Encarnacion-Soto and hopes for the swift capture of Robert Strother. The tragic case serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and support for victims of domestic violence.
