A 29-year-old Florida woman was found dismembered inside a suitcase along a Georgia highway on October 31, 2024, after her boyfriend’s alarming messages prompted an investigation.
The victim, identified as Carmen Elsa Escalante Carrera, was last seen with her boyfriend, 41-year-old Jorge Javier Quintero, who was charged on November 25 with first-degree murder and fraudulent use of personal identification information.
The investigation began on October 29 when Quintero sent “concerning text messages” to a friend, leading them to alert authorities. A welfare check at Quintero’s Orlando home revealed a bloody scene, including “a large kitchen knife, a bloodied bathtub, and bloody clothes,” according to officials. Handwritten notes believed to be Quintero’s suicide messages, were also discovered at the residence.
Further evidence of foul play was uncovered at another apartment the couple had planned to move into. Surveillance footage captured Quintero leaving his home in a rented white truck shortly before Escalante Carrera’s phone was traced to Georgia. Authorities later discovered her remains in the suitcase along a highway. A power cord was found around her neck, and rosary beads were placed inside the suitcase alongside her dismembered body. The medical examiner determined that she had died from ligature strangulation.
The search for Quintero ended in Alabama, where U.S. Marshals tracked him down. He was injured in a shootout but survived and was arrested. He remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Domestic violence remains a pervasive issue across the United States. According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, approximately 41% of women and 26% of men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. This translates to over 61 million women and 53 million men affected.
In Florida, domestic violence remains a significant concern, with thousands of incidents reported annually. In 2020, law enforcement agencies across the state recorded 106,515 domestic violence offenses, leading to 63,217 arrests. During the fiscal year 2020-2021, Florida’s certified domestic violence centers provided 412,360 nights of emergency shelter to 10,287 survivors and their children.
This case has drawn attention due to its disturbing details and the swift actions taken by law enforcement across multiple states.