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Queens man took girlfriend’s body to beach in a wagon, where it remained for 5 days
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 28, 2026 at 6:58 p.m. ET
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By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 28, 2026 at 6:58 p.m. ET
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A Queens man wheeled his girlfriend’s body in a wagon to the beach at Rockaway Community Park and buried her in a shallow grave, where she remained for five days before police found her, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Two days after the alleged killing on Oct. 19, the boyfriend, Rogelio Lozano-Garita, 26, called 911 to report Seraphina Pereira, 35, missing, according to the Queens district attorney's office. He told police that a box holding her belongings had been dropped off at his apartment building, along with a note from a surfer who he said had found her things on the beach.
Lozano-Garita, of Edgemere, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of second-degree murder, weapon possession, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence in Pereira’s death, according to prosecutors. He pleaded not guilty, court records show. Police said he was taken into custody Monday.
A lawyer for Lozano-Garita did not return messages seeking comment.
Prosecutors said Lozano-Garita shot Pereira in the head sometime between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Oct. 19 inside an apartment at 343 Beach 54th St. The city’s chief medical examiner ruled her death a homicide on Monday and found she had been shot in the head, neck and torso, officials said.
An NYPD K-9 unit searched the beach and Pereira’s remains were found just before 10 p.m. on Oct. 24 near a cricket field near Beach 58th Street and Almeda Avenue, about half a mile from her home, officials said.
The couple lived together in Edgemere with their two young children and Pereira’s child from a previous relationship, prosecutors said. Police said her home was in Ocean Bay Apartments, a complex that is part of the New York City Housing Authority.
In a statement, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said that, as alleged, Lozano-Garita “mercilessly killed his girlfriend,” the mother of his children, then tried to cover up the crime.
A judge ordered Lozano-Garita held without bail, court records show. He is due back in court Friday and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, according to the district attorney’s office.
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queens
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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