A 26-year-old woman from the Bronx, New York, was found deceased inside a suitcase near the Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers, New York, on Thursday morning, March 6, 2025. The woman, Pamela Alcantara, was in the process of moving out of the apartment she shared with her former boyfriend.
Alcantara was last observed in her apartment building located in Fordham Heights early on Sunday, March 2. Her family became concerned and reported her missing when she did not attend a church service that day, a notable deviation for the devout Christian.
“She was only 26 years old and had her whole life ahead of her,” a relative told News12.
The New York City medical examiner declared Alcantara’s death a homicide after authorities discovered her body in a red suitcase near the Saw Mill River Parkway, close to Yonkers Avenue and Palmer Road, at approximately 9:50 a.m. on Thursday.
Junior Perez Diaz, 46, Alcantara’s former boyfriend, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and two counts of first-degree kidnapping related to her death.
Authorities tracked Diaz’s vehicle to the area where Alcantara’s body was located using a license plate reader, according to sources.
Surveillance footage from the apartment building captured Alcantara entering an elevator early on Sunday, but no footage recorded her leaving. Investigators later found video evidence allegedly showing Diaz moving the suitcase with Alcantara’s body on a dolly from their shared building and placing it in his car.
“We are all devastated because this should have never happened,” another family member told news outlets.
Family members noted that Alcantara had recently ended her three-year relationship with Diaz and was in the process of moving out of their shared apartment. They observed signs of a struggle when they entered the apartment on Monday, which led them to suspect Diaz’s involvement in her disappearance.
Relatives reported that Diaz exhibited controlling behavior during their relationship, including using recording devices to monitor Alcantara’s activities.
Alcantara’s mother mentioned that her daughter had confided in her about Diaz’s threat to take his own life if she ended their relationship.
Alcantara’s cousin disclosed that days before her disappearance, Alcantara had asked her mother to pray for her. Her best friend grew concerned when she failed to attend church on Sunday, as she was known for her active involvement in the church community.
According to CBS News, Alcantara’s mother believed her daughter did not fully reveal the extent of the abuse because she was still mourning the loss of her other daughter, who had passed away a year and four months earlier. Alcantara often expressed that she did not want to worry her mother, who was still grieving.
Diaz initially informed detectives that Alcantara left the apartment hurriedly, wearing pajamas and carrying a red suitcase. However, evidence later contradicted this account.
On Friday evening, community members and faith leaders held a candlelight vigil outside Alcantara’s Bronx home to commemorate her life. Loved ones spoke about her community service and dedication to assisting others, including homeless individuals in her neighborhood.
The vigil also served as an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence. Speakers highlighted the importance of recognizing warning signs in relationships, stressing that even one threat is too many.
Alcantara’s family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to assist in transporting her body to the Dominican Republic for burial.
The NYPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Alcantara’s death.
