The family of a
Kissimmee woman mistakenly killed in a murder-for-hire plot says the legal system will ensure that “justice will be served.”
KISSIMMEE — Family members of a woman killed in a botched Osceola County murder-for-hire plot appealed to authorities Friday so that the ”appropriate penalties and sentences be given to those responsible.”
“Our family believes in the criminal justice system from the state of Florida, and we are confident that justice will be served,” said Joselle Marie Zengotita-Torres, the sister of murder victim Janice Zengotita-Torres.
Standing in front of Funeraria San Juan in Kissimmee before her sister’s service, Joselle Zengotita-Torres asked for privacy while her family grieves Janice Zengotita-Torres, who was 42.
“I want to tell some of you and remind others that my sister was a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and formed part of a great family,” Zengotita-Torres said.
Spectrum cable workers found Janice Zengotita-Torres’ body about 9 a.m. Jan. 8, after her family had reported her missing earlier that day. According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, her slaying was part of a botched plan to kill a woman who was part of a love triangle.
Ishnar Marie Lopez, 35, hired Alexis Ramos and his girlfriend, Glorianmarie Quinones Montes, both 22, to kill the woman, Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson said. But the woman they targeted — Zengotita-Torres — was the wrong one.
Gibson said the suspects drove her to an apartment near The Mall at Millenia in Orlando before realizing they had the wrong person. Yet they continued with their plan, restraining her with zip ties and covering her head with duct tape and garbage bags, Gibson said.
Then they beat her until she was unconscious, and she suffocated, the sheriff said.
“Not only was it planned — a kidnapping and a cruel murder were committed. These are enough aggravating factors to see this as a death-penalty case ... but it’s still an ongoing investigation,” said Maj. Jacob Ruiz, spokesman for the Osceola County Sheriff ’s Office.
The case has gained the attention of the Puerto Rican
community in Central Florida and on the island, where there is no death penalty and criminal laws tend to be more lenient. The three suspects moved from Puerto Rico to Central Florida in late December, and Gibson said they confessed to the crimes.
On Friday, Ruiz said detectives are still investigating the case, and they will scour the suspects’ social-media accounts for potential evidence.
“We want to verify and make sure that we turn over a complete case to the State Attorney’s Office and make sure there’s no holes and no information left out,” Ruiz said.
On Tuesday, Florida Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, called on Gov. Rick Scott to remove Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala from the case — and from office. Cortes said he wants the three suspects to receive the death penalty.
They are being held without bail in the Osceola County Jail.
Staff writer Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio contributed. bpadro@orlandosentinel.com or 407-232-0202