A 24-year-old Marinette woman was found dead in Menominee County, Michigan, six days after she went missing, Marinette police said.
The body of Gabriella Cartagena was found about 10 a.m. Feb. 10 in a wooded area on Birch Creek Road in Menominee County, Marinette Police Chief Jon LaCombe said at a news conference Feb. 12. The news conference was streamed by WBAY.
Cartagena went missing Feb. 4 near Red Arrow Park in Marinette. LaCombe said she died near the park and her body was moved to Michigan. He said her mother’s last contact with Cartagena was during a phone call at 7:19 p.m. Feb. 4 when she was heard saying, “Please don’t shoot me.”
Police went to Red Arrow Park and found signs of possible blood. Marinette police identified Cartagena’s boyfriend, who lives in Porterfield, as a person of interest. Based on a vehicle description and cell tower information, Marinette police contacted the Wright County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota. At 3:30 p.m. Feb. 5, the sheriff’s office arrested the boyfriend for fleeing a police officer. LaCombe said they found firearms in his car at the time of his arrest. LaCombe said the boyfriend does not have any Minnesota ties.
Police are awaiting the results of her autopsy today before filing possible charges in Cartagena’s death. The Press-Gazette does not identify suspects in a case until they are charged.
Contact Benita Mathew at bmathew@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Body of missing Marinette woman found; boyfriend arrested, police say
Reporting by Benita Mathew, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
