A 39-year-old mother of four who immigrated to the United States from Ecuador in 2021 was found dead in a Pennsylvania dumpster, and her husband has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.
The body of Lucrecia Jadan Sumba was discovered in a trash receptacle near a Santander bank branch in the 200 block of South Third Street in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, January 11, 2025, around 6 p.m. An autopsy revealed she died from sharp force injuries, according to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.
Her husband, Rolando Corte, 42, was arrested on Sunday and charged with first-degree murder. According to charging documents, Corte allegedly told the couple’s oldest son that “only he and God know what happened to her.”
Investigators found suspected blood in the kitchen area and hall outside the bathroom of the couple’s home on the 400 block of Elmora Avenue in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where authorities believe she was killed on January 8. During the investigation, a witness reported that Corte had admitted to killing his wife.
Sumba was reported missing on January 9 after failing to show up for work at Princess Nails salon in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where her absence prompted concern from colleagues. “We need justice,” expressed her coworkers, who later established a GoFundMe page to support her children: Leonel Corte Jadan, 21, Christian Corte Jadan, 19, Danny Corte Jadan, 18, and Eidan Corte Jadan, five.
According to the GoFundMe page, on Monday, January 6, 2025, and Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Lucrecia Elizabeth went to work at the nail salon as usual, where she was known as “La Tia,” arriving on time and with a positive attitude. Wednesday, January 8, 2025 was her day off, during which she followed her regular routine of waking up and taking her children Danny and Eidan to school. However, on Thursday, she did not come to work, which prompted her boss, Abigail, and her coworkers to grow concerned since it was very unlike her to miss work or fail to notify them if she couldn’t make it. They repeatedly called her, left voicemails, and eventually went to her home in search of her.
Court documents revealed that Sumba and Corte had been experiencing marital problems before her death. The couple had been married for over 23 years. When Sumba failed to appear at work, Corte appeared “very disinterested of her whereabouts,” according to family members.
Sumba had moved to America in 2021 “looking for a better future for her family” and was working toward earning her GED at the time of her death. Friends described her as a hardworking mother who raised her children with love and sacrifice.
Corte is currently being held at the Union County Jail pending his first court appearance on January 16, 2025. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office has requested that anyone with information about the case contact their Homicide Task Force.
The GoFundMe had raised over $20,000 as of January 17. It will pay for a viewing, a funeral and burial in Jadan Gualaceo, Ecuador, where her parents Angel Jadan and Rosario Sumba are waiting for her.