Victim in Bay Shore body dismemberment decapitated while still alive; arrest made

BAY SHORE (WABC) -- The victim's family left the courtroom in tears, unable to comprehend the madness that took the life of 28-year-old Chinelle Browne, an immigrant from Guyana, and the mother of four young children.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner found that Browne was decapitated while she was still alive.

Police arrested Leah Cuevas, a 42-year-old woman who claims to be the victim's landlord. Cuevas is charged with murdering her tenant in a rent dispute, then dumping the body parts in multiple locations in a grotesque attempt to cover up the murder.

On July 4th, prosecutors say she angrily confronted the victim over what was described as a "non-payment of rent and utilities". It was so heated, police had to intervene to break it up.

The following day, the victim returned home and was allegedly confronted again. She was overhead screaming, "No, Leah! No, Leah! What are you doing? Oh no, Oh no! I'm sorry!"

Prosecutors say Chinelle Browne was never seen again. Shortly afterwards, a body was found in Bay Shore, two arms were found in Hempstead and last week, a badly decomposed head was found in a bag also in Hempstead. Police have confirmed that all the parts found are Browne's remains.

On Wednesday, Cuevas was arrested and charged with Murder.

Investigators recovered the victim's blood stains in the hallway of her building, and in the landlord's first floor apartment.