Christian Millet is escorted by NYPD after his arrest on Feb. 12 (WABC).
A New York City man was charged with murder after reportedly telling police that he stabbed his roommate, cut him into pieces, and stuffed his remains into a suitcase — because of a fight over food.
Christian Millet, 23, was questioned by the New York Police Department after the dismembered remains of his roommate, 65-year-old Edwin Echevarria, were found in a suitcase that was floating in the East River. WABC, a local ABC affiliate, reported that after Echevarria was identified following the discovery of the suitcase on Feb. 5, Millet was brought in for an interview, where he allegedly made statements that indicated he knew what happened, including that the two men had fought over food.
Police officials said that a warrant to search the apartment at the New York City Housing Authority’s Baruch Houses led to Millet being brought in by officers. During that time, he reportedly confessed to the alleged crime, saying that a verbal argument became physical. He allegedly stomped Echevarria’s head then stabbed him 12 or 13 times with an ice pick before cutting his body into pieces. Millet then allegedly stuff some of the remains into a suitcase and tossed it in the East River.
WABC reported that inside the suitcase was Echevarria’s torso, and police were searching the city for more of his remains.
Local news outlet Gothamist spoke with Jennifer Matthews, Echevarria’s daughter, by phone. She explained that Millet was the grandson of her father’s ex-girlfriend, and he was trying to help the younger man by letting him live with him. But Matthews said the relationship allegedly became abusive, saying that she heard from relatives that Millet was beating up her father.
Matthews told Gothamist, “Last time when [Millet] left, I told my dad not to let him back in. I didn’t find out until my dad was missing that he had moved back in with my father.”
She said that at some point, Echevarria stopped answering phone calls. Missing posters that were put up following Echevarria’s apparent disappearance said that he had last been seen alive on Feb. 2.
Millet was taken into custody on Feb. 12 and charged with second-degree murder.
