N.J. man found guilty of killing his ex-girlfriend and trying to dissolve her body with chemicals

NEWARK, N.J. (TCD) -- A 37-year-old man was recently convicted of stalking and killing his 30-year-old ex-girlfriend and mother of his children in 2018.

According to a news release from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, on May 5, 2018, Gualberto Lebron allegedly strangled and sexually assaulted Julia Vega, a mother of three, in her apartment while the children were home. Lebron reportedly chased Vega outside and tried to assault her again until "neighbors intervened."

Lebron fled the scene before officers’ arrival, and he was a "fugitive for several days," the Prosecutor’s Office said.

After the alleged assault, Lebron reportedly stalked and threatened to kill Vega if she did not drop the charges against him.

Several days later, on May 9, 2018, the Prosecutor’s Office said Vega came home from her day care job to eat lunch and walk her dogs when Lebron broke into her apartment and killed her. Afterward, Lebron reportedly cleaned the home before rolling Vega’s body into a rug and driving away with it in Vega’s vehicle. The children were at school during the slaying.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Vega was reported missing, and authorities launched an investigation.

Lebron reportedly kept Vega’s body "concealed as he scouted locations to hide her body."

Gualberto Lebron’s brother, 38-year-old Gilberto Lebron, tried to help him disintegrate Vega’s remains, and they "stored her body inside heavy-duty trash bags filled with chemicals and sealed with duct tape."

On June 1, 2018, her "heavily damaged" remains were reportedly found in the trash bags behind an abandoned house.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, "The stem of a rose was recovered tucked under her arm inside the bag," and a "rubber bracelet from the Essex County Domestic Violence Response Team was still on her arm."

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Prosecutor’s Office announced that after a four-week trial, Lebron was found guilty on 21 counts, including aggravated murder, burglary, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, witness tampering, desecrating human remains, conspiracy, and three counts of endangering the welfare of children.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Lebron’s aggravated murder conviction is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Gualberto Lebron’s brother, Gilberto Lebron, was reportedly convicted as well on charges of desecrating human remains, hindering prosecution, and conspiracy. The Prosecutor’s Office said he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Assistant Prosecutor Adam B. Wells called Gualberto Lebron’s crimes, "without exaggeration — monstrous."

Wells continued, "The jury was attentive and diligent throughout a long and disturbing trial, and returned a verdict that will provide some measure of justice and closure for Julia Vega and her children."

MORE:

• Man Convicted of Slaying Mother of Three and Trying to Disintegrate Her Remains; His Brother Convicted of Aiding in Coverup — Essex County Prosecutor’s Office