HARTFORD– It was an emotional day in the courtroom Thursday as a Hartford homicide suspect appeared before a judge.
Luz Nieves, 45, was found stabbed to death in her apartment on Tuesday. Wednesday, police arrested her ex-boyfriend Alex Baez-Franqui, 40, of Hartford.
Nieves was an employee at Travelers Insurance and when her coworkers realized she didn’t come to work Tuesday, and that was out of character, they called police.
Police found her body lifeless on the floor with several stab wounds in her torso and neck. She was also naked from the waist down with a pair of towels placed over her legs, according to the arrest warrant.
Detectives say they found the screen torn and the window open, which they believe Baez-Franqui did to make it looked like someone broke into the apartment, but he had keys to get inside.
Baez- Franqui appeared in Hartford Superior Court on Thursday. He is a convicted felon and has been arrested 13 times in Hartford alone for many cases on multiple charges. and according to Deputy Chief Brian Foley he has “violence in his past.”
When he appeared in the courtroom, family and friends of Nieves began crying. One even had to be escorted out of court as he tried to break free and lunge after the suspect.
Police say Baez-Franqui admitted to drinking with Nieves Saturday night . He also said he smoked crack and that he lost it when she nagged him about being unfaithful.
After stabbing her to death with a kitchen knife, Baez-Franqui also admitted he tried to have sex with her, even knowing it was wrong.
The judge set his bond at $2 million.
The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence commented on the case: “This case is a reminder that more needs to be done to prevent domestic violence in the state.” They say this is the 12th intimate partner homicide in Connecticut this year. This is also Hartford’s 15th homicide of the year.
