Editor’s note: The Courier/Zip06.com originally reported on the arrest Jara-Aucupina on Dec. 27, 2020 in full online and in an abridged version for our Dec. 31 Year in Review 2020 issue. This is an expanded version of our original report.

On Dec. 27, 2020, East Haven Police arrested Jonathan Jara-Aucupina, 27, who was charged with the murder of his common-law wife Lizzbeth Aleman-Popoca, a 27-year-old East Haven mother whose body was recovered July 15, 2020, from a shallow grave in Branford after going missing on July 1.

Jara-Aucupina, who was taken into custody at Cody’s Diner in New Haven without incident, appeared before a judge in New Haven on Dec. 28 with the judge upholding a $2 million bond.

East Haven police announced the arrest in a Dec. 27 press conference.

“We wanted to bring closure to the family and get justice for Lizzbeth,” said Police Chief Ed Lennon. “It felt good to close the case, but it’s bittersweet because there’s still a little kid who doesn’t have a mom. I had the opportunity to talk to Lizzbeth’s father before we had the press conference. He had a lot of emotions and it was hard to talk about it, but he said he was glad this chapter was closed and he wants justice for his daughter and understands there is still a lengthy process to endure.”

Lennon described the long investigation in which few details were shared publicly as “frustrating” as the department aims to be transparent, but he was “concerned that certain details would have compromised evidence and some details were only known by Jara-Aucupina.” Those details continue to remain concealed as the case will now head to hearings and possibly to trial.

The arrest marks the resolution of an almost six-month investigation with more than 2,000 hours of investigation work put into the case with Jara-Aucupina the sole suspect. Sergeant Jeffrey Vailette and Officer Anthony Fiorillo were lead investigators on the case, though about one-third of the department assisted at various points, according to Lennon. The East Haven Police Department (EHPD) also received assistance from the Connecticut State Police, New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Branford, North Branford, and North Haven Police departments.

According to an EHPD press release, Vailette and Fiorillo learned during the investigation that Jara-Aucupina concocted a story that Lizzbeth had ran off when he knew that she was already dead. Aleman-Popoca’s disappearance was first reported by her family on July 3.

Police said initially Jara-Aucupina stated he received a phone call from their seven-year-old daughter while he was at work telling him that her mother was not home when she woke up. Upon his arrival to the family home, 4 St. Andrews Avenue, East Haven, Jara-Aucupina reported finding his daughter at home alone and Aleman-Popoca missing. He further reported finding most of her personal belongings left behind.

“In short, Jara-Aucupina concocted a story that Lizzbeth had ran off when he knew she was already dead,” said Lennon. “He had used this story to lie to her family, to her loved ones, and eventually law enforcement. Her family basically forced him to report her missing. After this initial missing persons report, Jara-Aucupina continued to lie to investigators and also tried to conceal where he had buried her.”

East Haven Police Captain Joe Murgo said late on July 15 that his department’s missing person investigation led to the rear parking lot of LoMonaco’s Ristorante Italiano on West Main Street in Branford, where officers found an area of disturbed dirt behind the Dumpster area. The Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad responded and located human remains buried in a shallow grave, according to Murgo.

In September, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Connecticut James Gill, M.D. ruled the death a homicide with the cause of death being “homicidal asphyxia.”

“Lizzbeth was a vibrant mother, daughter, and sister and leaves behind a seven-year-old daughter,” Lennon stated at the Dec. 27 press conference. “This daughter, in one act of domestic violence, will live the rest of her life without her mom. That’s not how any child should have to grow up. The father will no longer have a daughter, and the sister will no longer have her sister and best friend. I sincerely hope that today’s arrest will begin the path for justice that Lizzbeth and her family ultimately deserve after a senseless act of domestic violence was perpetuated against her.”

Lennon noted that he and those at the press conference wore a variation of purple to recognize domestic violence victims. Lennon stressed at the press conference and afterward that help and support is available for the victims of domestic violence.

“It’s hard to overcome the first step of reaching out, but once they do reach out, we are there to help them and there are plenty of resources to help, as well,” said Lennon. “Far too often, victims find themselves in a cycle of domestic violence in which they feel there is no way out. We want victims of domestic violence to know that there is hope. There are people who care. We care. You are not alone in your fight to end the abuse. We hope this arrest is the beginning of the healing process and justice Lizzbeth and her family deserve.”

-Brian Boyd contributed to this story.