East Haven, Connecticut – A man from East Haven has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave behind a Branford restaurant almost four years ago. Jonathan Jara-Aucapina, facing a potential 60-year sentence if convicted at trial, entered a guilty plea for first-degree murder in February as part of a plea deal.
The victim, Lizzbeth Aleman-Popoca, was the mother of Jara-Aucapina’s daughter and his longtime girlfriend. She vanished from her residence on July 1, 2020, and 16 days later, her remains were found behind dumpsters at LoMonaco’s Ristorante, where the perpetrator worked part-time.
Advocates supporting Aleman-Popoca’s family aim to bring awareness to other cases of missing and murdered women in Connecticut. Vanessa Emely Suarez, founder of Vivan Las Autonomas advocacy group, emphasized the importance of shedding light on femicide in the region, stating that Aleman-Popoca’s tragedy reflects the grim reality faced by many women each year.
Suarez expressed the family’s disappointment with Jara-Aucapina’s 25-year sentence, advocating for a harsher punishment to bring a sense of justice for Aleman-Popoca. She highlighted the prevalence of intimate-partner homicides in Connecticut, urging for stronger measures to prevent such tragedies.
Nika Zarazvand, a member of Vivan Las Autonomas and a close friend of Aleman-Popoca’s sister, underscored the need to classify women’s murders as femicides to acknowledge the underlying gender-based violence. She raised concerns about the vulnerability faced by women, particularly undocumented immigrants like Aleman-Popoca, in seeking safety from abusive partners due to legal constraints.
The case garnered attention for the elaborate story crafted by Jara-Aucapina to deceive family and authorities about Aleman-Popoca’s disappearance. Investigators unraveled the perpetrator’s actions leading up to the murder, which included purchasing tools before ultimately committing the crime.
Capt. Joseph Murgo of the East Haven police described the investigation as intricate, consuming over 2,000 hours to piece together the events surrounding Aleman-Popoca’s death. Advocates emphasized the urgency to address gender-based violence and femicide to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Despite the legal proceedings, the family’s pursuit of justice remained steadfast, resisting any attempts to lessen the gravity of Jara-Aucapina’s actions. Aleman-Popoca’s loved ones stood firm in their demand for accountability, hoping to honor her memory by holding the perpetrator accountable for his heinous crime.
Department of Correction records indicate that Jara-Aucapina has been in custody since December 28, 2020, serving his sentence at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. The case serves as a somber reminder of the devastating impact of gender-based violence and the urgent need for comprehensive measures to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.