BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF THE BLUDGEONING DEATH
OF HIS LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the conviction of a 47-year- old man for the murder of his live-in girlfriend. Felipe Arroyo, of 1285 Shakespeare Avenue, the Bronx, was found guilty of Murder in the 2nd degree in the bludgeoning death of Lucy Alvarado, 42.

State Supreme Court Justice John Carter set sentencing for Tuesday, April 1, 2008 in Part T-26. Arroyo is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment.

The crime occurred on November 18, 2006 in the bedroom of the apartment that the couple shared with Alvarado’s mother and three of Alvarado’s minor children. According to the evidence presented in court, during an argument two weeks before the murder, Arroyo, who apparently believed that Alvarado was cheating on him, had threatened to “split her head open”. On the day of the crime, the couple had an argument, and Alvarado threatened to call the police. Arroyo bludgeoned Alvarado to death with a blunt object, which, in a confession, he referred to as a “banger.” He then placed the victim’s body in bed and left the apartment.

Alvarado’s body was discovered around 5:30 pm the same day by her mother and sister. The medical examiner determined the cause of death as blunt force head injury with skull fractures and brain lacerations. No weapon was recovered.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Aaron Kaplan and Assistant District Attorney Gabriela Leal Antioco of the Domestic Violence Bureau.