A New Beginning in the United States
Reyna Angélica Marroquín was born on December 2, 1941, in El Salvador. Seeking a fresh start after a failed marriage, she immigrated to the United States in August 1966, settling in New York City. There, she worked as a nanny and found employment at Melrose Plastics, a company specializing in artificial flowers. Despite the challenges of adapting to a new country, Reyna was determined to build a better life for herself.
The Disappearance
In January 1969, Reyna, who was nine months pregnant, vanished without a trace. Her absence went unnoticed for years, and her family in El Salvador was left in the dark about her fate. The lack of immediate concern from authorities and the absence of a thorough investigation allowed her case to remain cold for decades.
The Discovery
On September 2, 1999, a 55-gallon drum was discovered in the crawl space of a house in Jericho, New York, a suburb of New York City. Inside the barrel were the mummified remains of a pregnant Hispanic woman in her late 20s. The body exhibited signs of blunt force trauma, and personal items found with the remains included two rings, a locket inscribed “To Patrice Love Uncle Phil”, green dye, a plastic artificial plant stem, and an address book. The barrel had been manufactured in 1965 for transporting dye and had been shipped to Melrose Plastics, where Reyna had worked.
The Investigation
Upon examining the address book, investigators found a Social Security number belonging to Reyna Angélica Marroquín. Further inquiries led them to Kathy Andrade, a friend of Reyna’s, who revealed that Reyna had been having an affair with Howard B. Elkins, a married businessman and former owner of Melrose Plastics. Andrade also mentioned that Reyna had confided in her about fearing for her life after informing Elkins’ wife about the affair.
Detectives interviewed Elkins, who was uncooperative. They informed him of their intention to obtain his DNA for comparison with that of the fetus found inside Reyna. The following day, on September 10, 1999, Elkins was found dead in the back seat of a neighbor’s car from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. DNA testing confirmed that Elkins was the father of the fetus.
The Aftermath
Investigators believe that Elkins either went to Reyna’s apartment or lured her to the factory, ultimately killing her. He then took her body to the house in Jericho, possibly with the intention of dumping her in the ocean from his boat. However, after filling the barrel with plastic pellets to ensure it would sink, he found it too heavy to move and left it in the crawl space.
Reyna’s remains were returned to her hometown in San Martín, El Salvador, where she was laid to rest. Her mother, who was 95 years old at the time, passed away a month later and was buried alongside her daughter.
Legacy and Reflection
Reyna Angélica Marroquín’s story is a poignant reminder of the systemic issues that often lead to the marginalization and victimization of immigrant women. Her murder, which went unsolved for three decades, underscores the need for greater attention to be paid to cases involving marginalized individuals. It also highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the need for justice to be served, regardless of the victim’s background.
Her case has been featured in various media outlets, including:
- “A Voice from Beyond”, an episode of the true crime series Forensic Files.
- “Flower Drum Murder”, an episode of Murder Book.
- “Broken Trust”, an episode of The New Detectives.
- “Lady in a Barrel”, an episode of Buried in the Backyard.
These features have helped bring attention to her case and have contributed to the ongoing discussion about the need for justice for all victims, regardless of their background.
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