A man accused of raping a corpse on a Manhattan subway train near the Whitehall Street station, is an undocumented immigrant who reportedly crossed the US border at least five times before being arrested for the disturbing act.
Felix Rojas, aged 44, had crossed the US-Mexico border without authorisation“on several occasions” during the 1990s, before being intercepted by Border Patrol agents and voluntarily departing, an ICE spokesperson said, according to the New York Post.
Rojas subsequently re-entered the country undetected until his arrest by NYPD on Sunday evening. The arrest was in connection with the violation of Jorge Gonzalez, a 37-year-old family man who had passed away on an R train approximately three weeks prior, officials confirmed.
A court proceeding this week revealed what Rojas allegedly did after finding Gonzalez dead or dying on a subway bench on April 8. According to prosecutors, surveillance footage shows Rojas first going through Gonzalez’s pockets to rob him, then returning to sexually assault his body.
They said Rojas repeatedly zipped up his pants and adjusted Gonzalez’s trousers whenever the train stopped, trying to avoid being caught in the act. Prosecutors said the assault lasted over 30 minutes. Gonzalez’s death was likely due to natural causes, several reports said.
Court records indicate Rojas remained present when an MTA employee discovered the body at approximately 12:25 pm. Emergency services instructed Rojas to exit the train whilst they examined Gonzalez, who was pronounced deceased at the location.
Rojas faces charges including rape and grand larceny, and is being held without bail. He entered a not guilty plea and is due to appear in court on May 5.
Prosecutors revealed he had presented “a passport from another country” upon surrendering to the NYPD. The ICE spokesperson noted that Rojas’s most recent illegal entry date remains unknown.
ICE officials in New York City filed immigration detainers against Jeronimo’s release with Manhattan Central Booking on Monday, and with the Department of Corrections at Rikers Island on Wednesday following his remand order, the spokesperson confirmed.
An ICE spokesperson, referring to the accused as Felix Jeronimo-Rojas, confirmed Border Patrol encounters in 1998 (three times) and 1999 (once), with Rojas voluntarily returning to Mexico after each instance.
