Despite previously admitting to killing his girlfriend and her son, lawyers for double-murder and kidnapping suspect Jose Paulino Pascual-Reyes are appealing the state’s request for a compulsory DNA sample.
Pascual-Reyes, who is in the country illegally, was arrested Aug. 2 after authorities were alerted about a 12-year-old girl reportedly escaping from his residence.
According to court documents, a 12-year-old girl was drugged and tied to a bedpost for over a week. At some point, she was able to chew her way through her restraints and was later found by a motorist who called the police.
Upon investigating Reyes' residence, police discovered two dismembered, decomposing bodies.
The first body was identified as Sandra Vasquez Ceja. The second body was only identified in court documents as "AOGV."
According to Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, Pascual-Reyes and Ceja lived together as boyfriend and girlfriend. The escaped girl and the unnamed body have been officially identified as Ceja's children.
According to court documents, both "AOGV" and Ceja were killed and dismembered on July 24. Ceja was "smothered by a pillow," and "AOGV" was "bludgeoned with hands or feet."
In the court motion asking for the DNA sample, prosecutors presented verbal testimony from Pascual-Reyes wherein he reportedly confessed to murdering his girlfriend and her son.
Court documents also indicate Pascual-Reyes attempted to cut the bodies into small pieces to conceal his crimes.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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