Jennifer Velandia was missing for ten days(Image: Jam Press)

Missing woman found chopped up in wardrobe after neighbours report 'foul smell' in flat

Police arrested Jennifer Velandia's former partner William David Márquez Muñoz in connection with her alleged murder, after he reportedly tricked her into entering his apartment

by · The Mirror

A missing woman was horrifically found chopped up in a wardrobe after neighbours reported a "foul smell" in her flat, according to police.

Jennifer Velandia, 24, vanished on October 31 and her family were concerned for her welfare as she was deaf. Her uncle, who has not been named, said that without her hearing aids, she "would not be able to find her way around".

However, tragic news soon emerged after Velandia’s body was found in an apartment 10 days later. The police arrested her former partner William David Márquez Muñoz in connection with her alleged murder.

He allegedly tricked her into entering the apartment that was in the same building where he lives, according to the authorities. He is then suspected of using her phone to extort cash from her family in Yopal, located north-east of the Colombian capital Bogotá.

The family transferred £51 before Márquez reportedly sold the victim’s motorbike for £141. Public prosecutor Anderson Pinilla Sandoval said: “The woman was tied up by her hands and feet. Her mobile phone was used and she was forced to ask her relatives for money. They contributed COP 290,000.”

William David Márquez Muñoz was spotted on CCTV hanging around outside the apartment.( Image: Jam Press)

Pinilla added: “Once he completed the task, he proceeded to suffocate her.” Her body was discovered after neighbours reported a foul odour coming from the home.

Regional governor César Ortiz Zorro said on social media: “I would like to express to the public my absolute rejection of the cowardly and miserable act of femicide against the sacred life of young Jenifer Velandia. This atrocious crime represents the most aberrant and insane violence against a woman full of dreams.”

He announced a reward of £8,816 for information that leads to the “capture of the psychopathic murderer responsible for the young woman’s terrible death”. Márquez was arrested on 10 November.

After selling her motorbike on 2 November, the suspect fled to the municipality of Orocué with his new partner. The unnamed woman provided information to the authorities that proved crucial to his capture.

He allegedly tricked her into entering the apartment that was in the same building where he lives( Image: Jam Press)

In CCTV images from the day of the alleged murder, Márquez is seen lingering outside the building entrance for several minutes.

Pinilla said: “The Prosecutor's Office has provided abundant evidence, including CCTV videos and witness statements that allowed us to reconstruct what happened on the night of 31 October.”

He added that the victim’s dismembered remains were “found in bags” in the closet, as reported by NeedToKnow.

The suspect is facing charges of aggravated femicide, aggravated kidnapping, extortion, and qualified theft. He has so far denied all charges as the investigation continues.