GRAND JURY CHARGES BRONX MAN WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF HIS WIFE AND HER SISTER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 32 year old man who fled to Puerto Rico following the shooting deaths of his common law wife and her sister, has been indicted on first degree murder charges.

Edelmiro Cesareo, of 187 Throggs Neck Boulevard, the Bronx, was indicted on two counts of Murder in the 1st degree, two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree, two counts of Manslaughter in the 1st degree, Criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd and 3rd degrees, and two counts of Endangering the welfare of a child.

Cesareo is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on July 13, 2004 in State Supreme Court, Part A.

Cesareo allegedly fatally shot his common law wife, Loreen Merchan, 32, during an argument over her sister’s extended stays with the couple in their Throggs Neck Boulevard apartment. The sister, Yasmin Merchan, of Waterbury, Connecticut, also was shot to death.

The incident occurred on June 8, 2004 and began with a heated verbal exchange between Cesareo and Yasmin Merchan. Cesareo, who was angry because his sister-in-law would visit from out of town for long periods of time, allegedly held a gun to the woman’s head when the
argument escalated. When Yasmin Merchan challenged Cesareo’s manhood by telling him that he did not have the guts to pull the trigger, Cesareo called out to his wife, Loreen Merchan, who was outside on the balcony. When his wife entered the room, he allegedly shot her in the head before shooting Yasmin Merchan, who attempted to aid her sister. The shootings were witnessed by the couple’s teenage daughters, one of whom Cesareo allegedly threatened to kill if she told anyone about the shooting. Cesareo fled to Puerto Rico where he was arrested a few days later.

Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Bruce Birns and Assistant District Attorney Kara Miller of the Domestic Violence Bureau are prosecuting the case.