Man Sentenced for Strangling Childhood Friend to Death at 21st Birthday Party He'd Planned for Her: Report

A man has been sentenced for murdering his childhood friend at a birthday party he planned for her, according to reports.

Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison on Monday, March 10, after strangling 21-year-old Joselyn Toaquiza and dumping her body in a park in Syracuse, New York, on June 18, 2024, according to local media outlet Syracuse.com.

The outlet reported that Chacaguasay-Ilbis killed Toaquiza after inviting her to an Airbnb that he rented to celebrate her 21st birthday. He had reportedly traveled to the hotel where Toaquiza worked as a housekeeper to meet her before heading to the rental.

According to the outlet, prosecutor Anthony Copani told the court on Monday that Chacaguasay-Ilbis and Toaquiza were both from Ecuador and knew each other in school.

Toaquiza was reported missing by her family on June 19, Syracuse.com previously reported. Her body was found by police in Lincoln Park on June 22, four days after her birthday.

Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick previously confirmed to local media outlet CNY Central that Toaquiza died from strangulation.

Chacaguasay-Ilbis was taken into custody on June 26. He was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in connection with the death. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on June 27, per the outlet.

He went on to plead guilty to the crime on Jan. 21, CNY Central reported.

Attorneys alleged in court that Chacaguasay-Ilbis fled to New York City after the murder and used Toaquiza’s credit cards to make purchases, which included a subscription to OnlyFans, per Syracuse.com.

Copani went on to call Chacaguasay-Ilbis a “cold-blooded killer” in court, while Judge Ted Limpert told Chacaguasay-Ilbis that Toaquiza’s death is something her family “is going to wrestle with for the rest of their lives,” per the outlet.

“They can’t understand it. Nor can I, nor can the people of this community,” the judge added, calling the family’s pain “unimaginable.”

Chacaguasay-Ilbis’ attorney, Ben Coffin, said he was arrested in a hospital after allegedly being mugged and sexually assaulted by a sex worker and argued that Toaquiza’s death had an impact on him and he was getting into dangerous situations, per the outlet.

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Chacaguasay-Ilbis apologized in a statement to Toaquiza’s family, who were watching via video link in court, per Syracuse.com. “I feel really bad and ashamed for this situation that I have caused, for ignoring my principles and values. … I regret everything, and I wholeheartedly ask for your forgiveness. I wasn’t conscious of what I did,” he said in a statement read out by a translator in court.

Letters from Toaquiza’s family were also read out in court, including one from her father, which read, “I am devastated by your departure my princess.”

PEOPLE has reached out to the New York State Unified Court System for additional information.