The Evening Before She Was Kidnapped She Told Her Mom She Was Afraid For Her Life, Then Days Later She Was Discovered Dead In A Suitcase

Bre Avery Zacharski |

Sep 27, 2021

New Rochelle, New York. 24-year-old Valerie Reyes lived in New Rochelle and worked in Eastchester at Barnes & Noble.

Valerie’s mom, Norma Sanchez, said she was a creative and amazing young woman.

“My baby is a unique soul, an extraordinary human being,” Norma wrote on a GoFundMe page for her. “Humble, artistic, a true warrior, free-spirited and always brightening lives with her beautiful smile.”

On January 28th, 2019, Norma spoke with Valerie on the phone, and she was alarmed by what her daughter told her.

“She was very scared, very frightened,” Norma told The Journal News in an interview. “She didn’t mention anything or no one specific.”

“She just said, ‘I’m scared. I’m paranoid, mommy. I’m getting anxiety attacks.’ She was having a hard time talking.” Norma pressed her daughter for more information. She even asking Valerie pointedly if her ex-boyfriend, Javier Da Silva, was the one causing her to feel so distressed, but she denied it.

“I’m afraid someone is going to murder me,” Valerie insisted over the phone.

The very next day, Valerie was kidnapped.

Greenwich Police; pictured above is Valerie

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On January 30th, Valerie’s family reported her as missing after not being able to get in touch with her.

Several days after Valerie had disappeared, on February 5th, a red-colored suitcase was found sitting alongside Glenville Road in Greenwich, Connecticut.

When the suitcase was opened up, Valerie was sadly found dead inside.

The Connecticut Medical Examiner’s Office would later determine that Valerie’s death was a murder, and she had been asphyxiated.

Authorities worked to piece together who had taken Valerie’s life in such a horrifying way, and 6 days after Valerie had been found, her ex-boyfriend Javier Da Silva was arrested.

“In the late evening of January 28, 2019, DA SILVA rented a car from a garage in Flushing, New York and drove to the Victim’s residence in New Rochelle, New York, arriving in the early morning hours of January 29, 2019,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said in a press release.”

“Before he entered the Victim’s home, DA SILVA switched his phone to “airplane mode.” Sometime after DA SILVA entered the Victim’s apartment, DA SILVA and the Victim had a violent altercation, during which the victim suffered head trauma, bruising around the face, and a large hematoma to her forehead.”

“DA SILVA then kidnapped the Victim—covering her mouth with several layers of packing tape and binding her feet and hands with packing tape and twine and putting her in a suitcase.”

Javier had heartlessly packed Valerie into the suitcase, drove to Greenwich, and tossed her out onto the road, where she was later found dead.

Greenwich Police; pictured above is Valerie stands on a snow-covered road

Javier then stole Valerie’s debit card and used it to take $5,350 out of her bank account. He also took Valerie’s iPad and sold it.

Javier ultimately pleaded guilty to kidnapping Valerie, and last Thursday, he was sentenced to 360 months, or 30 years, in prison.

“Javier Da Silva committed a horrific kidnapping that resulted in the death of a young woman,” U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said.

“In the days after, he used her ATM card to empty her bank account and then attempted to cover up the evidence of his conduct.”

“Valerie Reyes, the victim of this crime, was in the prime of her life when it was senselessly ended by Da Silva’s abhorrent act. Those who commit violence, especially those who kill, will not escape justice.”