SANFORD, Fla. — A judge on Friday denied bond for a man accused of strangling his girlfriend.
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Sanford police announced the arrest of Joel Bauza on Thursday.
Investigators said he was responsible for killing Joysee Cartagena.
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In July, Cartagena was found in her home on Saltmarsh Loop with a zip-tie around her neck. According to an arrest affidavit, the zip tie was placed around Cartagena’s neck to make it appear she strangled herself. But the medical examiner said it was placed there after she was strangled.
Police said Bauza tried to convince them that Cartagena took her own life.
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Loved ones said Cartagena, 49, was a beloved mother and friend who worked for Seminole County Public Schools from 2015-2022.
In a news release, Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said, “She was a radiant woman who made a positive impact on so many lives in this community. We are saddened that Bauza’s actions took her from loved ones so prematurely. We hope he will now receive the justice he deserves.”
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Bauza has been charged with first-degree murder.
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