A 71-year-old man who was reported missing was found dead on Wednesday, and his stepson was apprehended in the killing, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
According to deputies, Jorge Vazquez-Escutia, 71, was last seen just after midnight on Tuesday near the 8600 block of Hal Court.
The sheriff’s office explained that there were worries about his well-being because he has memory loss.
However, on Wednesday, detectives confirmed that Vazquez-Escutia had been slain, and his stepson, 44-year-old Jose L. Proano, is now charged with first-degree murder.
“In the course of their investigation, deputies uncovered evidence that Proano, 44, killed and dismembered Mr. Vazquez-Escutia and attempted to conceal that murder by disposing of his body,” the release states. “There are no outstanding suspects, and there is no threat to the community.”
According to an affidavit, Proano had a “negative relationship” with Vazquez-Escutia, even suggesting that he had limited Proana’s ability to see his own mother.
“He has had ongoing problems with Jorge Vazquez-Escutia and thoughts that Jorge Vazquez-Escutia abandoning his mother, leaving her alone in the residence even though she had dementia, and preventing him from accessing his mother,” the statement says. “He placed numerous calls for service to check on his family members, nearing the level of obsession.”
Detectives said Proano traveled from his home in Northport to Orlando on July 31 out of apparent concern for his mother and daughter.
According to the affidavit, Proano pursued Vazquez-Escutia, dismembered his body, packed the pieces in three suitcases, and left the suitcases on the nearby White Road.
“Friends of Jose Proano reached out to family and detailed that Jose Proano admitted to killing his father/taking care of his father, beating up his father, with the reasoning behind [REDACTED],” the statement reads. “A second witness detailed he was called by Jose Proano requesting help in regard to this incident.”
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