Posted on 08/20/2005 8:55:37 AM PDT by Smogger
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia police announced Saturday that they have charged the 25-year-old former boyfriend of LaToyia Figueroa with her death.
Stephen Poaches, of West Philadelphia, the missing pregnant woman's former boyfriend and the father of her unborn baby, was charged with the murder of the 24-year-old woman.
Figueroa has been missing for a month.
Philadelphia police recovered her remains early Saturday in nearby Chester, located about 13 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
When Poaches was arrested in Chester, police said he was wearing a bullet proof vest and was carrying a pistol.
LaToyia Figueroa's father, Melvin Figueroa, said he was relieved that an arrest had been made.
"Now she can rest in peace," he said. "All I want is justice with that peace."
Figueroa, who was five months' pregnant when she disappeared and already the mother of a young girl, was last seen on the afternoon of July 18 in West Philadelphia. Police received a missing persons report July 21, McClane said.
The remains were recovered in a grassy, partially wooded lot near homes and a road in Chester. The area was cordoned off by yellow police tape Saturday morning.
A few dozen members of the Figueroa family and supporters arrived at the scene shortly after daybreak, clustering close to the police tape and embracing each other.
They declined to comment to reporters.
Relatives and friends, who have papered the city with flyers and held large-scale searches for any sign of Figueroa, had just marked the one-month anniversary of her disappearance. A reward fund for information had reached $100,000.
I didn't take his comment "that" way either. I know exactly what he meant.
Oh, just damn. Another one. Prayers for her family.
Amen sister.
Amen.
If I too, were to "pay" for bad decisions made in my 20's I probably wouldn't be alive right now. But, I'm pretty tough and with God's help I got through that and now I don't allow myself to be taken advantage of by anybody. In my job I also see women who would do anything for some slug who doesn't deserve for my dog to urinate on. I am always amazed at how much BS women are willing to put up with just to keep their men. I always say if they fail to be an asset then they are just an ass.
Totally agree. This girl got herself mixed up with a very bad guy. Even if he hadn't murdered her, she had a young daughter who could have been at risk. How many stories do we read about women's boyfriends who molest their children?
*** When Poaches was arrested in Chester, police said he was wearing a bullet proof vest and was carrying a pistol. ***
Just hmmmmm.
I listened to the tape from Fox and it did indicate they had a tip and followed him to the body..That makes more sense than that they were following him 24/7.
One thing the Laci case taught me is not to believe everything the media claims from "sources"..
I hope they have him nailed..
I looked up the guy's lawyer after I heard him speak..Get ready for a defense putting the police on trial...again..
No, none of us know if they "could have" made better choices.
However, your comment insinuated that this lady brought it on herself by not keeping her pants on. I'm older than dirt, as they say, and over the years I've seen stories about many a married woman, quite a few who were pregnant, who met with similar sad fates.
It isn't just about "keeping their pants on" (and in any event, that's a two way street, too). Such comments aren't really that relevant, since pants on or off, married or single, and of any age, women and girls can die at the hands of someone who's an inveterate and unrepentant abuser.
That said, I will agree with those who are concerned about unmarried sex. The dangers range from those of the spirit all the way to those of the flesh. Many diseases proliferate from these practices. Many hearts are broken when the man moves on to yet another "girlfriend." Many children born into such relationships grow up without knowing their fathers, and without the guidance of a good man.
That is but one of the tragedies of our times.
You're welcome. A sad ping indeed. I think the longer we waited for word, and the initial 9 days was already long for a happy outcome, the more it seemed unlikely she and her baby would be found alive. Such a tragedy. Now her 7 year old has lost mother and sister not to mention a grandmother she never knew. Prayers for the whole family.
You're welcome. Yes, I second that, prayers for the entire family. Her older daughter has lost mother and sister. Very heartbreaking. It was wonderful to see how her family loved and searched tirelessly for her and how the media eventually got on board. It is truly a heartbreaking outcome, I think though as time went on, it seemed less likely they'd be found alive.
I also wondered but there is another reason. According to Mr Poaches LaToyia's family made death threats against him because they thought he had something to do with her disappearance and possible death (go figure).
Anyway, whenever he went out he wore his vest and gun. Which is what he was wearing as the police suprised him trying to hide Latoyia's body near those RR tracks.
Oh, OK.
Hmmmm ... moving a decomposing body.
"That stinks."
Well, he'll have bigger fish to fry than her fam if he winds up in general prison population. Sans vest and firearm.
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/12448643.htm
snip
Philadelphia police also revealed that the man whose help Poaches allegedly sought in moving the body Friday night was assisting police and that the van the men were to use had been provided by investigators - complete with a tracking system.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector of Detectives Joseph Fox told a news conference Monday that Poaches had given a statement in the case, the contents of which Fox refused to discuss.
But a top police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Poaches had confessed to the killing. In the statement, according to the source, Poaches said that the crime occurred during an argument and that he temporarily hid Figueroa's body under a bed.
snip
OMG.. Well, that s'plains why he had to "move" it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.