Police are searching for the estranged husband of a woman who was found stabbed to death inside a garage at her home in Northeast Philadelphia, family members said.
According to police, the remains were discovered on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, at the home of a woman who was reported missing the day before.
According to investigators, officers returning to the home along the 5900 block of Elsinore Street, on Sunday found the remains of 53-year-old Ivelisse Lugo, in the garage, wrapped in a blanket and towel.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
Officials said that Lugo was pronounced by medics at the scene.
In a statement on Monday, investigators said Lugo died after being stabbed once in the back. Officials also believe the person who killed Lugo attempted to clean the scene.
On Monday, police identified 34-year-old Miguel Aguilar as a person of interest in Lugo's death. Family members said Aguilar is Lugo's estranged husband of five years.
Lugo, officials said, was last seen Saturday morning at her home, possibly with Aguilar.
Police said Aguilar may be driving a white 2006 Chevrolet Express with the Pennsylvania tag ZRR-4023. The vehicle has a roof rack, missing paint and cross decal on the driver's side rear door as well as missing paint along the passenger side roof, according to investigators.
If you have any information on Aguilar's whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-3334. You can also leave an anonymous tip by calling or texting 215-686-TIPS (8477).
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
“I am appalled and it kind of hits different. Like a family member because we’ve all been around here for so long,” a neighbor told NBC10's Leah Uko.
Lugo has two daughters, and neighbors said, they were knocking on doors asking people if they had seen her before her body was discovered.
Lugo’s brother, cousins and police say they do not know where her estranged husband is -- despite trying to get in contact with him.
“They were great people. They were nice. The crime doesn’t fit them. I can say that,” a neighbor said.
There have been no arrests or weapons recovered in this incident.
However, law enforcement officials said that they are reviewing surveillance footage from the area to learn more about what may have happened in this case.
Ivelisse Lugo was a hard-working woman
Lugo's sister describes her as a happy person who was the life of the party.
She said Lugo would always be willing to help others and loved her family. Lugo leaves behind two adult daughters, two sisters and two brothers.
She had turned 53 in October.
It was Lugo's sister who realized something was wrong when she didn't show up at her house for a trip to New York City and didn't call.
The sister said she called her sister's husband, Aguilar, who she said told her the two had gotten into a fight and said Lugo would call her in two to three days. The family said Lugo and Aguilar were in the process of getting a divorce.
The family went to Lugo's home and could not find her but saw her car parked around the corner. That's when they called the police and reported her missing.
On Sunday, it was family and friends who returned to Lugo's home and found her body in the garage.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
