NJ man found guilty of murdering his ex and disintegrating remains with chemicals

NEW YORK – A jury has found a Newark man guilty of stalking and murdering his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children, then trying to dispose of her remains by placing them in garbage bags filled with chemicals, according to the local prosecutor’s office. .

Acting Essex County District Attorney Theodore Stephens II announced on Wednesday that Gualberto Lebron, 37, was convicted of 21 of 24 counts, including aggravated murder, robbery, aggravated assault , aggravated sexual assault, tampering with witnesses, desecration of human remains, conspiracy and three counts. of endangering the well-being of children in connection with the horrific murder of Julia Vega in 2018.

According to Stephens, the charges Lebron faces date back to the spring of 2018, when a history of domestic violence led to a strangulation and sexual assault by Lebron de Vega on May 5, 2018 at his Newark apartment while the children were getting away. found there. Vega evaded the attack, but Lebron chased her outside, where he continued to attempt to attack her until the neighbors intervened. Lebron then fled before police could reach the scene and remained on the run for days.

The prosecutor’s office goes on to say that it was after this incident that Lebron escalated the harassment and threats against his ex-girlfriend, threatening to kill her if she did not drop the charges against him.

A few days later, on May 9, 2018, while the kids were at school, Vega came home to walk her dogs on her lunch break from work at a local daycare, Lebron followed her, walked in by breaking into her apartment and killed her, Stephens said.

Lebron then cleaned up the apartment, removed Vega’s body on a rolled-up rug and loaded it into Vega’s van, before driving away with his body, according to Stephens, who also said Vega was reported missing the same day. night.

Lebron was on the run for the next few days, allegedly hiding her body while looking for a place to dispose of her. Lebron’s brother reportedly stepped in to help and in between stuffed the body remains into heavy-duty trash bags filled with chemicals and sealed with duct tape.

The bags containing Vega’s remains were discovered behind an abandoned house in Irvington nearly a month later. According to Stephens, Vega’s remains were found with a rose stem under her arm and she was still wearing a rubber strap from the Essex County Domestic Violence Response Team.

Lebron’s brother was also convicted of desecration of human remains and obstruction of prosecution.

Assistant District Attorney Adam B. Wells, who pursued the case with Assistant District Attorney Monica Calderón, said what Lebron did to Vega and his children was “no exaggeration, monstrous.”

“But the whole community, including her friends, neighbors and family, as well as tireless and dedicated members of law enforcement, came together to get justice for her,” Wells added. “The jury was attentive and diligent during a long and disturbing trial, returning a verdict that will bring some justice and closure to Julia Vega and her children.”

Lebron faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole, while his brother faces up to 10 years in prison for his conviction. Judgment is scheduled for April 3.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline for local resources. For 24/7 support, call 800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.