ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 71-year-old man who was reported missing was found dead on Wednesday, and his stepson was arrested in the killing, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
In a release, deputies said that the man — identified as Jorge Vazquez-Escutia, 71 — was last seen shortly after midnight on Tuesday near the 8600 block of Hal Court.
The sheriff’s office explained that there were concerns for his well-being due to the fact that he suffers from memory loss.
But on Wednesday, detectives announced that Vazquez-Escutia had been murdered, with his stepson — identified as 44-year-old Jose L. Proano — now facing a charge of first-degree murder.
[RELATED: Watch footage of Proano’s arrest below]
“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 reads. “There are no outstanding suspects, and there is no threat to the community.”
In an affidavit, investigators said that Proano had detailed a “negative relationship” with Vazquez-Escutia, even discussing thoughts that he’d restricted 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 affidavit states. “He placed numerous calls for service to check on his family members, nearing the level of obsession.”
Detectives said Proano had traveled from his home in Northport up to Orlando on July 31 out of apparent concern for his mother and daughter.
The affidavit also shows that Proano had stalked Vazquez-Escutia, dismembered his body, stuffed the remains in three separate suitcases, and left the suitcases along 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 affidavit continues. “A second witness detailed he was called by Jose Proano requesting help in regard to this incident.”