Florida Charges Jose Proano, 44, With First-Degree Murder in Stepfather Dismemberment
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 16
Florida Charges Jose Proano, 44, With First-Degree Murder in Stepfather Dismemberment
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 16
Summary
Orange County deputies charged Jose Proano, 44, with first-degree murder after Jorge Vazquez-Escutia, 71, was found dismembered in three suitcases near the victim’s Orlando home.
Security video from Aug. 2 showed a man hauling heavy luggage from the house and appearing to place a human arm into one suitcase; investigators said Proano’s phone data put him at the scene.
Detectives also cited blood evidence, scratches on Proano’s hands, arms and cheek, and statements from friends who said he told them he had killed his stepfather.
Court records say Proano described a negative relationship with Vazquez-Escutia, believed he was being kept from seeing his mother, and had repeatedly called 911 over fears for her safety.
Proano was already on probation until 2027 in a 2022 armed burglary case; the new charge reopened that case, and he is being held without bond.