Cuban Woman Missing in Illinois Found Dead
- This article details the tragic death of Claudia Mojarrieta Matos, a 21-year-old woman found murdered in Wadsworth, Illinois, after being reported missing from Elmhurst.
- What: The murder of Claudia Mojarrieta Matos, a 21-year-old woman.
- On Saturday, December 6, 2023, at approximately 4:35 a.m., the Elmhurst Police Department received a 911 call from a man reporting the disappearance of Claudia Mojarrieta Matos.
Claudia Mojarrieta Matos: Elmhurst Man Charged in Murder of Missing Cuban Woman
Table of Contents
This article details the tragic death of Claudia Mojarrieta Matos, a 21-year-old woman found murdered in Wadsworth, Illinois, after being reported missing from Elmhurst. Santino Ortiz, 22, has been arrested and charged with her murder.
The Disappearance and Initial Search
On Saturday, December 6, 2023, at approximately 4:35 a.m., the Elmhurst Police Department received a 911 call from a man reporting the disappearance of Claudia Mojarrieta Matos. The caller stated he had dropped Mojarrieta off around 1:00 a.m. in the 600 block of West Lorraine Avenue to meet Santino Ortiz.
Shortly after,the caller received a distressed phone call from Mojarrieta during which he heard a struggle and her crying before the line went dead. He immediately returned to the location but was unable to find her, prompting him to contact 911. Police confirmed the details of the report in a statement released by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Identification of Suspect and Arrest
Investigators quickly focused on Santino Ortiz,22,whose residence is located just one block north of the drop-off location on West Belden Avenue. Ortiz was brought in for questioning at the Elmhurst Police Department on Saturday afternoon and taken into custody within 12 hours of the initial 911 call.
The Alleged Crime
According to the prosecutor’s report, Ortiz allegedly solicited sexual services from Mojarrieta and arranged the meeting on Lorraine Avenue.The situation escalated tragically when Ortiz allegedly brought Mojarrieta to his garage, where he physically assaulted her.
The report details a brutal attack: Ortiz allegedly hit Mojarrieta’s head against the ground and stabbed her multiple times with a knife. He then concealed her body in a bag, placed it in a trash container, and later transported it to a wooded area in Wadsworth, Illinois.
Discovery of the Body and Autopsy Results
On Sunday, December 10, 2023, shortly before 6:00 p.m., the lake county Coroner’s Office was alerted to the discovery of a body in a wooded area near adams and Delany streets in Wadsworth. The body was identified as that of Claudia Mojarrieta Matos,a resident of Greenacres,Florida.
the subsequent autopsy revealed the horrific extent of the violence inflicted upon Mojarrieta. The coroner determined she had been stabbed approximately seven times in the face and head.
Legal Proceedings
Ortiz appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon facing murder charges. Pre-trial release was denied by the DuPage County state’s Attorney’s Office, meaning he will remain in custody pending further legal proceedings.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Time (Approx.) | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 6, 2023 | 1:00 AM | mojarrieta dropped off to meet Ortiz | Elmhurst, IL |
| Dec 6, 2023 | 1:15 AM | Caller hears struggle, call disconnected | Elmhurst, IL |
| Dec 6, 2023 | 4:35 AM | 911 call reporting Mojarrieta missing | Elmhurst, IL |
| Dec 6, 2023 | Afternoon | Ortiz questioned and arrested | Elmhurst, IL |
| Dec 10, 2023 | 6:00 PM | Body discovered | Wadsworth, IL |
| Dec 12, 2023| Afternoon | Ortiz appears in court, denied bail | dupage County, IL