WORCESTER, Mass. — The two suspects in the murders of a mother and daughter who were found shot to death in a bullet-riddled SUV in Worcester earlier this week have lengthy criminal histories , court documents showed.
Karel Mangual, 28, has since been arrested and arraigned on charges of armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license in the Tuesday daylight killings of 27-year-old Chasity Nuñez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella.
The SUV their bodies were found in was towed away from the crime scene with more than a dozen bullet holes in the driver’s side windows. Sgt. Sean Murtha, Public Information Officer for the Worcester Police Department, said a “fairly high number” of shots were fired into the vehicle.
Law enforcement agencies on Friday were still trying to track down 27-year-old Dejan Belnavis, who is also wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and carrying a firearm without a license in connection with the double murder.
Prosecutors say Mangual and Belnavis fled the scene of the murders on Englewood Avenue in the city’s Columbus Park neighborhood and got into a getaway car that was later recovered in Harford, Connecticut.
Mangual was spotted getting out of a vehicle in Hartford with Belnavis, around an hour after the deadly shooting took place, according to prosecutors.
[ ‘Destined for success’: Mom killed in Worcester was decorated National Guard member, healthcare pro ]
Belnavis and Mangual are no strangers to run-ins with law enforcement, according to Worcester District Court documents obtained by Boston 25 News. The two have faced a slew of violent charges that date back to 2014.
Belnavis has previously been charged with the following offenses:
- Drug possession charge in 2023
- Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges in 2021 -- was found guilty of one count
- License suspended in 2020
- Breaking and entering charge in 2018
- One count of strangulation/suffocation, one count of assault and battery on a family member charges in 2018 -- accused of punching girlfriend repeatedly, strangling her to the point where she almost passed out -- charges dismissed
- License suspended, excessive speeding charges in 2019
- Drug possession charges in 2019
- Drug possession charge in 2016
- Drug possession, unlicensed operation, and speeding charges in 2016
- License suspended, failure to yield at an intersection charge in 2016
- Drug possession, unlicensed operation charges in 2016
- Uninsured motor vehicle charge, registration suspended in 2017
- Resisting arrest charge in 2017 -- found guilty
- Drug possession to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug law charges in 2017
- Marijuana possession, drug possession, conspiracy to violate drug charges
Mangual has previously been charged with the following offenses:
- Assault to murder charge in 2014 -- accused of sending a man to the hospital after firing multiple rounds at him -- dismissed
- Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (motor vehicle) charge in 2019 -- found guilty and identified by police as a gang member
- Liquor possession under the age of 21 charge in 2014
Chastity Nuñez was a member of the Connecticut National Guard and received honors like the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Achievement Medal.
She also served as a Patient Safety & Clinical Quality Program Coordinator at MIT Health since July 2023.
Zella was a student at Worcester Public Schools. The school district called her death “unimaginable” and a “terrible tragedy.”
Mangual is being held without bail and will reappear in court for a dangerousness hearing later this month.
Anyone with information on Belnavis’ whereabouts is urged to contact Worcester police.
An investigation into Chastity and Zella’s deaths remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW