A Common Thread
At first, New York City Police did not see a serial killer was kidnapping and murdering Hispanic children in the South Bronx.
The first victim was 14-year-old Shamira Bello, who disappeared on July 2, 1988 from her working-class neighborhood. Her sexually abused body was found the next day in Pelham Bay Park. She had been killed by repeated blows to the head. Finding dead bodies in Pelham Bay Park is not unusual, between 1986 and 1992 police found 40 bodies dumped there.
Almost a year later, two more children, Nilda Cartagena, 13, and Heriberto Marrero, 15, disappeared from the same area, only to be found strangled to death near the Whitestone Bridge on June 21, 1989.
Lisa Ann Rodriguez was taken on June 14, 1990. She was found dead, her body dumped along the Hutchinson River Parkway.
Three months later, 10-year-old Jessica Guzman vanished only to be found strangled near the Bronx River Parkway.
The killings helped bring the community together. They raised money for additional police patrols, and held vigils and news conferences to keep the murders on the front pages. When Jessica’s body was found, 2,000 people attended her funeral.
In response, police formed a 40-member task force to solve the murders.
Although the victims were all Hispanic and all lived within a two-square mile swatch of New York City, there wasn’t much on the surface to link them together. Decomposition made determining how the victims died difficult, their ages ranged from 10 to 21 (Rodriguez was the oldest) and Heriberto was male.
But when the investigators began putting the pieces together, they became convinced that there was a serial killer loose and their investigation began to focus on the one common denominator: Alejandro Henriquez.
Henriquez, who operated a livery cab company in the area had ties to each of the victims:
- He had dated Lisa Ann Rodriguez
- He was Nilda Caragena’s uncle
- He knew Shamira Bello
- He was one of the last people seen with Jessica Guzman
- He was dating a woman whose daughter was one of Jessica’s close friends
Almost immediately after Jessica failed to return home for dinner, Henriquez came under suspicion despite his participation in search parties and candlelight prayer vigils. He was cooperative when questioned by police, but they were disturbed by his responses to some of their questions. Henriquez was also more than curious about the effectiveness of the bloodhounds detectives were using to try and find clues, they recounted.
His request to a young friend to follow the tracking dog and report what it found prompted police to elevate his status from “person of interest” to “suspect.”
When they looked into his background, their suspicions were confirmed.
Henriquez at first denied knowing 21-year-old Lisa Rodriguez. But when confronted with a picture of Rodriguez and asked about a date they had had, Henriquez admitted knowing her and claimed he never saw her after the date.
He told children that he was an undercover federal narcotics agent, and he often bought them video games and toys. Henriquez liked to brag about his sexual prowess, officials told the media.
Detectives Irwin Silverman and Gus Papay served as the chief investigators of the case.
“I lived with this case every day, every night,” Irwin later told the New York Daily News. “We checked out Alex from the day he was in his mother’s womb. Gus and I went into everything in his whole life.”
It was that detailed investigation that cracked the case.
The evidence against him was largely circumstantial, however.
A police expert, Francis X. Callery, testified that three strands of hair found on Bello, matched that Henriquez. Using charts and slides that dramatically showed the similarities, he also said that fibers found on three victims matched those in a vacuum cleaner in Henriquez’s apartment or on a spool of red thread that according to other testimony had been in his apartment.
Most damning, though, was his attempt to have his nephew make phone calls to the media pretending to be the killer.
“He wanted me to pretend like I was the killer,” the nephew, John Anthony Ramirez, testified. “He told me to
disguise my voice, to be careful not to get caught, to keep it a secret between me and him.”
When Ramirez asked for more details of the crimes, Henriquez slipped up and told him things that only the killer would know — such as a rip in the training bra that Jessica was wearing. That fact had not been made public.
A note Ramirez was to use as a script also emerged during the trial:
“I called you to worn you put you didn’t listen. I will strik again were when how. But soon my this time youll belive me . . . I will stop when I reah Big 13. So far luckey 7 ha ha ha ha hang up.”
After a six-week trial, Henriquez, who did not take the stand, was convicted of the murders of Jessica Guzman, Lisa Ann Rodriguez and Shamira Bello and sentenced to the maximum term of 75 years. He has not been charged with the other two killings.
Shameless Self-Promotion
I appreciate the fact that this story was told. More children & neighborhoods alike need to be
aware of the fact that such horrific crimes could be happening in your own neighborhood.
It really takes more than just the parents’ eyes to watch for our children, our neighborhood
children, these are the kids that play with your kids (if a parent)and God Forbid it is one of yours.
Monsters like Henriquez prey on young children and someone needs to keep a watchful eye out!
I lost someone very dear to me by the hands of Henriquez & he has left me empty for life.
I would like to know after Henriquez’ sentencing, where was he sent to serve his time?
Comment by just b cuz — 6/30/2006 @ 6:15 pm
That monster took my friend jessica guzman away when I was 10, I am now 25 and I still miss her. I hope he rotts in hell.
Comment by tamika — 9/16/2006 @ 9:48 pm
This is so unbelievable! I knew this man, he dated my sister at the time of these murders. I can sat that my sister was very lucky to have escaped him. Someone up there likes her. I do want to say however, that when my sister left NYC, this man asked me out on a date, knowing I was in a serious relationship at the time and asked me not to mention it to my man . I declined, But, I can’t help to wonder what his plans for me where that night. It’s just very scary to think I and my sister were associated with such a piece of dirt!!!
Comment by Cindy — 1/12/2007 @ 12:01 pm
I NEW THIS LITTLE GIRL SHE WAS MY SISTERS GODDAUGHTER AND LIVED IN THE
APARTMENT ABOVE MY SISTER. I REMEMBER WHEN I USE TO GO VISIT MY SISTER,I
WOULD JUST LOOK OUT THE FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW AND THERE CAME SHAMIRA DOWN THE
STEPS TO COME INTO TO MY SISTERS HOUSE TO BE THERE WITH US. SHE WAS A VERY
GOOD, NICE AND SMART GIRL. NO ONE EVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO HER.
THIS MAN DESERVES MORE FOR TAKING A LITTLE INNOCENT GIRLS LIFE AWAY.
Comment by EVIE — 2/14/2007 @ 11:08 am
its crazy how this happened…my parents told me this story and how they knew jessica because i was only 1 year old when this happened..we used to live in the same building as her in the castle hill projects..2275 randall ave.
Comment by castle hill 2275 randall — 3/19/2007 @ 10:27 pm
My family and I were from 2275 and I was petrified for days. I was young and didn’t know what to think. I remember I saw her mother in the elevator after and I smiled at her and she smiled at me. I felt so bad for her mother and brothers. But God has a reason for everything good or bad and I know she is n a better place and she helped alot of people, in a sad way.
Comment by lele — 4/9/2007 @ 12:02 am
I want to give much thanks to everyone that’s never forgotten the way this monster
came into our lives and turned them upside down. I was a very close friend to
Lisa and I must say that after being involved in the investigation and conviction
of this predator I have never been the same. I am now a parent to a child that
is exactly the same age that I was during this nightmare and I worry for her
safety every minute of every day. Even though I know this monster is behind bars
he still manages to haunt my dreams. So when I see web sites like this that
educate people of the monstrosities that go on in this cruel world it helps to
lighten the burden that I carry every day. Thanks
Comment by Kacey — 4/27/2007 @ 1:19 pm
I can tell you that Greenhaven is truly hell and hell is the place for this monster.
Comment by jr — 5/7/2007 @ 3:59 pm
yeah i remember jessica guzman. i lived in 2275 randall the same building she did. i remember being on the new s when that happened. i said i hope jessica comes back cuz i miss her so much.i still mitss her. all the time i visit the bronx i go by a nice graffiti memorial of her just around the corner from the project where werre from and just pay my respect. she will always be missed. love u jessica.
Comment by 2275 apt 4A 1985-1995 resident — 7/23/2007 @ 12:57 am
I definitely remember Jessica Guzman. She was at least 2 years older than me. I lived on Arnow Ave. (Bronx) at the time and to get there, every night, my mother would drive by the area where her body was found. The feeling was always eerie and I just couldn’t believe that it was so close to home. Henriquez is an animal and he should be UNDER the prison.
Comment by Julissa — 9/24/2007 @ 12:04 am
it’s alarming that if this guy had not slipped a couple of times, he might’ve been acquitted due to the circumstantial nature
of the case. And it’s not a coincidence that this rash of child murders subsided after his incarceration…..
These murders still haunt me today because of such innocent youth…let’s just hope that today’s law enforcement do a better job
when tragedies like these first happen….
Comment by PT — 12/7/2007 @ 4:24 pm
I am orginally from Castle Hill and I will never forget what this horrible man did to these
children. At the time my daughter was 3 years older than Jessica and I was terrified just
sending her to school. I hope he rots in hell for what he did. I also hope that these
families have found some type closure. May God be with these families.
Comment by Evelyn — 1/11/2008 @ 9:22 am
I WANT THIS DEVIL TO ROT IN HELL, I KNEW JESSICA FROM GROWING UP. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN IN KARATE AND IN PATHWAY 4 YOUTH CENTER, YOU WILL BE MISSED DAILY. EVERYDAY THAT GOES BY I THINK OF YOU AND WISH I COULD TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME. YES, I DO BELIEVE THAT GOD TAKES HIS ANGELS FIRST, TO HELP HIM PREPARE A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE. I LOVE YOU. I JUST WISH YOU COULD BE HERE WITH EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY MEISA…I HEAR HER DAUGHTER IS BEAUTIFUL AND GUESS HER ANGELS NAME…YES JESSICA.
Comment by sugar — 2/24/2008 @ 1:46 am
TO ALL THATS LOST, A ANGEL IS BORN
TO ALL THATS HERE, A STORY IS TOLD.
FOR A CHILD SO SWEET,INNOCENT AND STRONG,
WE AS A COMMUNITY, WILL LEAD YOUR LEGACY ON.
ONE MINUTE YOUR HERE, WE LAUGH AND CRY,
NEXT MINUTE YOUR GONE, AND WE LEFT BEHIND,
BUT NEVER FORGET, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN
OUR HEARTS AND SOUL, ALSO OUR MINDS.
Comment by easy al sis — 2/24/2008 @ 1:59 am
My name is Freddy, I was actually a friend of his nephew John, he dated one of my cousins for a while. I dealt with this a%#hole on a regular basis, my brother had business dealings with him in the car service firld. I never thought he was such a sick bastard!!!!! I actually testified against him at his trial. I knew Shamira as well, she was a cousin to friend I went to high school with. Nice, sweet girl!!! It gave me then and still does give me the creeps knowing I actually knew this sicko!!!! I hope he has been and still is getting tortured in and raped in there on a daily basis…..May God forgive me for feeling that way but that is just a fraction of what that jerk deserves…….He hurt alot of people, and I hope he pays 1000 fold!!!!!!!!!!!!
FV!
Comment by Freddy — 3/6/2008 @ 11:32 am
i grew up with jessica and her brothers, we went to the same school lived in the same projects, i remember that time, when this happened, we had that bigg vigil for her i remember thinkin i pray that she comes back she was so pretty, fun to hang out with, im 26 now and still miss her, everytime i see the mural on our block for her it chokes me up, i also remember him, i remember him from around the block he was creepy, i hope he rots in jail as well as hell where he belongs, its scary knowin that sumthing like this happend on our block rite in castle hill,
R.I.P jessica mami u will alwayz foreva be in my prayers and missed, LOVE U Girl
Comment by castle hill resident — 3/23/2008 @ 1:05 am
he deserves to die a slow death, I am an extended member of the family , my kids would have been jessicas 2nd cousins and now they cant see what a sweet girl she was.. he really is a bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by JANET — 6/16/2008 @ 4:48 pm
I’ve never talked about this before. Heriberto Marrero was my brother and Nilda Cartagena was my best friend. They walked to school together everyday. I was the last person to see them that morning. They were happy because it was their last day of school. They saved me, I wanted to walk them to school and they refused to let me go with them. I was 13. It’s been 19 years, they were found on June 20, 1989. I am now 32 years old and everyday I am tormented by this huge loss. Our families have been emotionally broken for the rest of our lives. Nilda and I talked about everything and one thing I did know was that the man that killed them both, her uncle, waited for her every morning on her way to school. He would park right on Watson Ave. See, Eddie and Nilda Walked to school with a group of about 10 kids that went to the same school. That morning it was raining and they waited but no one showed up so they decided to go by themselves. That was his moment, finally she was not accompanied by a bunch of school kids. Just my brother Eddie.I think about this moment everyday, the moment they got into his car believing they were safe, and the moment they realized they were in trouble. This thought breaks my heart everyday.My heart goes out to the other victims and their families.I believe Jessica’s death could have been prevented. Detectives working on Eddie and Nilda’s case were convinced that Henriquez was the murderer, but there was not enough evidence to convict him so they let it go hoping that something would come up. Unfortunately, he would have to murder more innocent children before he was caught. Knowing that he is in prison means nothing to me, he gets to breathe the same air we do, he gets to eat, sleep, take advantage of all the programs the prison has to offer, write to his family, be part of this world…he lives. One day he will be convicted for Eddie and Nilda’s murders also. They need to be able to rest in peace, then again I know they are, they are innocent angels. I will never, ever till the day I die be at peace, not until their deaths are brought to justice. God Bless all the children.
Comment by marilyn — 6/19/2008 @ 5:34 pm
its nice to know that these children are still being remembered i knew shamira very well and that monster took her away hope he rots.
Comment by beach ave — 7/18/2008 @ 2:47 pm
From time to time, I continue to search Jessica’s name in research of the story. The story brings me to believe that I was one of the lucky ones who was in the presence of this murderer. My father was a personal friend to this man. One night while my father was working as a bouncer at Riddler’s in Parkchester, I was too young to stay with him, my father ask this man if he can drive me to my grandmother’s house. Til this day, I am thankful that I made it to my destination. This man at the time was driving in the car with a female friend. If it wasn’t for the other passenger other than myself. I too will be one of his victims. God Bless those who were in the hands of this man. And my heart is deeply sadden not only for their death, but how they died. Did he really think that he will be able to commit all these murders and never get caught. Always remember “whatever is in the dark, will ALWAYS come to light”. These little stars that are no longer with us, are living beautiful lives. We, on earth, are faced with news everyday of predators who commit many different crimes. We, on earth, live in fear, praying that we make it home safe and wake up to see another day. Believe in God and pray that he protects us in our everyday walks of life, here in this world.
Comment by Anonymous — 7/24/2008 @ 12:15 pm
From time to time, I continue to search Jessica’s name in research of the story. The story brings me to believe that I was one of the lucky ones who was in the presence of this murderer. My father was a personal friend to this man. One night while my father was working as a bouncer at Riddler’s in Parkchester, I was too young to stay with him, my father ask this man if he can drive me to my grandmother’s house. Til this day, I am thankful that I made it to my destination. This man at the time was driving in the car with a female friend. If it wasn’t for the other passenger other than myself. I too will be one of his victims. God Bless those who were in the hands of this man. And my heart is deeply sadden not only for their death, but how they died. Did he really think that he will be able to commit all these murders and never get caught. Always remember “whatever is in the dark, will ALWAYS come to light”. These little stars that are no longer with us, are living beautiful lives. We, on earth, are faced with news everyday of predators who commit many different crimes. We, on earth, live in fear, praying that we make it home safe and wake up to see another day. Believe in God and pray that he protects us in our everyday walks of life, here in this world.
Comment by Blessed with Faith — 7/24/2008 @ 12:16 pm
God bless the lost souls! Shamira was my classmate in cs102, thoughts of her never end, thats how I found this article.
this beast will suffer on earth and in the afterlife.
Comment by 1444 beach ave resident — 9/13/2008 @ 1:43 pm
I knew this man I worked with him for 4yrs at the same company we all knew him as 96 he came to my house one time at that time my girls were 2 and 9 yrs old and when i heard about jesscia all i did was cry my heart go’s to all the families this asshole hurt and make my words me is going to get what’s coming to him and to this day i still think of all the kids he killed i am sorry for your lose it still brings tear to my eyes we will never forgot you jesscia,lisa ann , nilda, heriberto and shamira i hope all of you’s are in a better place then us
Comment by Anonymous — 11/21/2008 @ 12:37 am
I thank god everyday for giving me an over protective grandmother. Although I may have thought that her ways were too tough, I’m blessed that she constantly reminded me of missing children on the back of the milk carton. She would always point out to them and tell me that I could be one of those kids If I go with people I’m not supposed to. In other words don’t go with strangers and don’t trust too many people because it is a sick world out there. Those words were instilled in me on a daily basis. I am alive because of this! How do I begin…… My whole entire family knew Alex. He used to come to my house a lot when I was a kid. My cousin is his daughters god father. Alex’s father lived in the building next to the one where I lived. He was always outside his window. Alex was a very handsome man who was always nicely dressed and well groomed. He portrayed himself to be this clean cut, well spoken man who was involved in his local community. That was his PORTRAYAL. He was a BEAST. Before he killed his niece, Nilda and her friend, Heriberto, he had already murdered Lisa and Shamiro but nobody knew it was him. He was still living this life with lavish cars and still had that smile on his face as if he had not killed anyone. One day he double parks his silver mercedes and gets out of the car. I was in my friends house looking out of the window. Earlier that day, I argued with my so called boyfriend. I wanted to make him a little jealous. I got Alex’s attention by calling his name. He told me to come downstairs. I did and I even got in his car. I get chills thinking about this. I’m in his car and because I was nosy 15 year old and felt comfortable enough because I knew Alex, I asked him if this car was his. He told me that of course it was and he invited me to look in the glove compartment so that I can see the papers of the car. We had a short coversation and then he asked me if I wanted him to give me a ride around the block so I can feel how the car rides. Now, my grandmothers words come to my mind immediately and I tell him “I can’t because my grandmother will soon be looking for me.” I said my goodbye to him and left out the car. Am I blessed or what? I hope kids today will listen to their parents or any family member for that matter. When I heard about what he did I was in total shock that I was so close in contact with a serial killer. I was so close to being one of those kids on the milk carton. I didn’t know his niece, Nilda, but I knew her brother, Joey. I never forget when they found her body and he had to identify her. That’s a killer of someones soul. Joey was never the same after that. Nobody in the Bronx was ever the same after all of those horrific crimes against what was supposed to be part of the future generation of that time. God Bless all of those families of those who were affected by this BEAST that we call man. God Bless all of our children. Nadine… Formerly From 1020 Boynton Ave.
Comment by Nadine — 1/11/2009 @ 8:31 pm
Shamira was my bestfriend…..This man crushed alot of people. It’s been over 20 years, I was 12 when this occured and my heart still aches for her and her family. Sham R.I.P honey. I love you and miss you dearly. She didn’t deserve this, none of these kids did. I now have my own child and lord knows I worry to death about him. They should put that bastard under the fucking jail.
Comment by Monique — 5/6/2009 @ 1:10 pm