KENNER, La. (AP) - A 44-year-old man is accused of killing and dismembering a 27-year-old who was living with the suspect's ex-girlfriend in an apartment where detectives found evidence of blood spatters, a big pool of blood and a struggle, authorities said Tuesday.
Viusqui Perez-Espinosa was arrested Tuesday on charges of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in the death of Ivis Alexis Portales-Lara, said Lt. Brian McGregor, spokesman for the Kenner Police Department.
Authorities said jealousy was the apparent motive.
Investigators do not believe the woman who leased the apartment was involved in the killing, said McGregor.
"She's not being charged with any crime at this time," he said.
McGregor did not know whether Perez-Espinosa had a lawyer who could comment. Bond has not been set.
Both men were contract workers at the same refinery, McGregor said.
Portales-Lara's family reported him missing Nov. 13, after he failed to pick up his child for weekend visitation and missed church and appointments with friends, Kenner's police chief and the St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff said in a joint news release Tuesday.
Relatives said the victim was last seen the evening of Nov. 11 in an apartment in the Jefferson Parish city of Kenner, about 10 miles outside New Orleans, according to the news release.
Portales-Lara was living there with a woman whom Perez-Espinosa had left, McGregor said in a telephone interview. He said Perez-Espinosa returned there after being evicted from another apartment and moved in with the woman and Portales-Lara.