Now, a 40-year-old recently released ex-convict is charged in her murder.
Luzbenet Ramirez was discovered dead inside the closet of an apartment inside a Southern Boulevard building in the Longwood section Tuesday night. Police say she was killed around 3 a.m. on Friday, and her body was put in the closet and remained there, decomposing, until it was found.
Ramirez was temporarily staying in the apartment of a 25-year-old friend, Rosanna Castro, after fighting with her mother.
Police say she was fatally stabbed by Castro's ex-boyfriend, 40-year-old Jose Mendez, who showed up at the apartment. Mendez, believing the teen was in a relationship with Castro, allegedly flew into a jealous rage and stabbed the teen.
Ramirez was described as a straight-A student.
Mendez then put her body in a bag and shoved it into the closet, police said. Castro and her neighbors later found the body.
After a day of questioning, Mendez made statements implicating himself in the killing, according to authorities. Mendez was previously jailed for beating Castro. He was released five days before teen's murder.
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