Man Who Police Say Attacked His 70-Year-Old Uncle Causing His Death From Severe Head Injuries Arrested in Boston

  • Staff Consortium
  • June 24, 2022
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Monell was extradited from Boston, Massachusetts on Thurs. June 23, 2022. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT

ST. CROIX — A man who police say attacked his 70-year-old uncle following an argument in Sept. 2020, which led to the uncle's death on January 18, 2022 as a result of those same injuries, was extradited from the U.S. mainland to the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday to face charges, including first-degree murder.

According to police spokesman Glen Dratte, at 10:35 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2020, members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau traveled to a residence in Constitution Hill in Christiansted to investigate an incident involving a male individual who was found outside of his home unconscious. The male was later identified as Abraham Ortiz.

An investigation revealed that Ortiz and his nephew, 42-year-old Nesto Monell were involved in an argument and that Monell followed Ortiz to his residence and attacked him.  

As a result of the attack, Ortiz sustained severe head injuries and he was airlifted to the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida where he remained under medical care until he died on Jan. 18, 2022 from injuries sustained during the Sept. 2020 attack, according to the V.I.P.D.

Nesto-Monell 

Nesto Monell (Credit: The V.I. Police Department)

Monell had fled the territory and was detained in Boston, Mass. on a V.I. Police Department warrant. The suspect fought extradition, however the warrant was obtained and served to authorities in Boston and Monell was turned over to V.I.P.D. officers during an extradition hearing on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Monell was brought back to St. Croix where he faces charges of first-degree murder, third-degree assault, and carrying or using a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime.

Unable to make bail of $1 million, Monell was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advisement hearing.

St. Croix Chief Detective Lt. Naomi Joseph said, "This case is proof that when everyone plays their part, we are able to bring closure and justice to the victims and their families. This world is small, and we will travel to the ends of the earth to get you.”

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