'She did not deserve this': Family wants justice for Boston woman's death

The brother of kidnapped Boston woman Jassy Correia tells Boston 25 News she has been found dead in the trunk of the suspect's car.

The man wanted in connection to her kidnapping, 32-year-old Louis D. Coleman III, of Providence, Rhode Island, was located and taken into custody Thursday afternoon in Delaware.

Authorities surrounded Coleman's red car on the side of the highway, and immediately took him into custody. Sources tell Boston 25 News Correia's body was inside of his trunk.

>> Man accused in Boston woman's kidnapping, murder charged in Delaware

"Evidence of the crime is there in Delaware," Providence Police Colonel Hugh Clements said.

Authorities say Correia, 23, was last seen at club Venu in Boston's Theater District late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, and that her phone has been shut off since early Sunday. Her family said she was out celebrating her 23rd birthday.

The cause and manner of death are pending, according to Boston Police.

In a news conference Friday afternoon, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said violence against women isn't a women's issue. It's a problem men should take responsibility for.

"Jassy was not at the wrong place at the right time. She was right where every woman has a right to be, celebrating her birthday with a night out with friends," said Rollins.

"Everybody is sad and crying because they have the news they found her dead," Leonel Pires, Correia's uncle, said. "She's my family, I don't know how this happened."

Yvania Mondesir, one of Correia's best friends, said she was celebrating with Correia and her other friends.

"I haven't slept, I barely ate," Mondesir said. "I lost my phone, and for the life of me, I regret it."

Mondesir said she had "never seen this guy before in my life," and said when she returned home and Correia wasn't there, she went to police.

"She’s always with me," Mondesir said. "So for her to be missing for those couple days, and I don’t hear anything, I knew something was wrong."

Outside the Dorchester home where the family is grieving, they pleaded for answers and demanded justice.

"She was brave, she was strong, never returned home," Katia DePina, a cousin, said. "Nobody deserves this."

The victim's father spoke out Friday evening, choked up as he recalled the 24 hours that began with hope and ended with heartbreak.

"I have to respect the law, I believe in this country," Joaquin Correia said. "I'm gonna miss my daughter."

Correia's father shared what the victim said before the night she disappeared after she left her birthday celebration.

"I'm gonna celebrate this day on the 23rd because I work Monday and the Tuesday and I don't want to take this day off."

The family said Correia's 2-year-old daughter is being taken care of by her grandmother, and a GoFundMe page set up to take care of her and pay for her future education has surpassed its $50,000 goal in under 15 hours.

Coleman, who works for Raytheon, lives on Chestnut Street in Providence, and sources say police have obtained surveillance video showing who they believe to be Coleman carrying Correia into an apartment building.

They say the video then shows Coleman leaving the apartment with two suitcases, but Jassy is never seen on video leaving the apartment.

"Very helpful," Clements said. "These days, we rely heavily on video."

One neighbor said Coleman lives on the sixth floor, and said he just saw him Tuesday.

"I'm surprised, I'm shocked, knowing that he's your neighbor," Hector Fuentes said. "I just held the elevator for him and said, 'Hi.'"

>> BPD identify suspect wanted in connection to kidnapping of 23-year-old woman

Police spent most of Thursday searching the area in Providence.

"They were all in the parking lot when I was here," Sharon Steele, a resident of the building, said. "I have not seen anything unusual. This is a building that has a lot of international, doctors, medical fellows."

Friends and family turned to police after Jassy never came home and they could not get in touch with her.

Coleman will remain in custody in Delaware, and it is unclear when he will be formally charged.

Providence Police say he does not have a criminal history.

On Friday, Boston's Mayor Marty Walsh tweeted a personal message extending his condolences to Jassy's family and reminded us all to "watch over one another."

District Attorney Rachel Rollins also tweeted her condolences:

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Cox Media Group