Mugshot of Miguel A. Cotto. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — Miguel Cotto, 45, is facing a first-degree murder charge after police say he repeatedly stabbed his brother Jose on Monday at an Estate Glynn residence, with the victim later dying from his injuries at the Juan F. Luis Hospital.
According to court documents, police were dispatched to the home Monday afternoon after a neighbor called 911. Responding officers found Jose Cotto lying face up on a walkway with multiple stab wounds to his upper chest. His father told officers that Miguel Cotto, identified as the suspect, remained inside the residence.
Jose was transported by ambulance to the Juan F. Luis Hospital while Miguel was detained at the scene.
A family member told police that they had been sitting outside the home with Miguel when Jose approached the area where they were seated. According to the relative, Miguel suddenly got up, walked toward his brother and, without saying anything, stabbed him multiple times. The family member told police they immediately fled the area on foot.
Investigators documented blood in several locations around the property, including on the dirt beside a vehicle parked outside, at the end of the walkway leading toward an entrance to the home and on the floor inside the residence. Forensic personnel also discovered a pair of bloody pants inside a bathroom.
Miguel reportedly instructed officers to look underneath the walkway near the pool of blood where Jose had been lying. Police said they followed his directions and recovered a bloody kitchen knife.
Officers were still at the residence when they received notification from the hospital that Jose had succumbed to his injuries and had been pronounced dead by emergency room personnel.
Miguel was subsequently transported to the Police Operations Building. Police say he provided a statement there and admitted to stabbing his brother multiple times with the knife recovered by investigators.
He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and third-degree assault, all as crimes of domestic violence. Bail was set at $1 million, and he was remanded into custody pending his first court appearance.
According to the public court docket, Cotto’s advice-of-rights hearing was scheduled for Tuesday morning. As of press time, however, there was no indication on the docket that the hearing had taken place, and no future hearings were listed for Cotto.
Monday’s arrest follows Cotto’s January encounter with police, when officers were dispatched to a Christiansted gas station and found a distressed woman who had concealed herself inside a portable toilet. The woman told officers that Cotto, her boyfriend, had placed a sharp object against her neck during an argument before taking her outside, where she alleged he stabbed her in the right calf.
Police reported that Cotto admitted stabbing the woman and said he had already discarded the blade. He was arrested on charges of third-degree assault, simple assault and battery, possession of a dangerous weapon during a crime of violence and disturbance of the peace. The assault charges were classified as crimes of domestic violence. He was remanded into custody pending his initial court appearance.
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