Boston police are conducting a homicide investigation after the death of an 18-year-old woman, Yoseliani Ann Marte Ocasio, found inside a rental property in the city's Mattapan neighborhood, was officially ruled a homicide last Thursday. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed Ocasio died from a single gunshot wound to the head, nearly two weeks after her body was discovered.
"This coward killed my baby. He put a gun to her head, took my baby in that house and left her to die." — Elenie Ocasio, Mother of Yoseliani Ann Marte Ocasio
The incident began on July 18 when Boston Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting. An individual had entered the District E-18 police station, alerting authorities to a person shot at a residence. Upon arrival at the two-family home, officers conducted a protective sweep and located Ocasio's body in a second-floor apartment, near a rear bedroom. She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel.
An autopsy was performed the day following the discovery, which determined the cause of death to be a single gunshot wound to the head. However, the medical examiner initially withheld a ruling on the manner of death, indicating that additional forensic testing was required to make a definitive determination. This is a standard procedure in complex death investigations, allowing for comprehensive analysis before classifying a death as natural, accidental, suicide, or homicide. Following the completion of these tests, investigators formally classified Ocasio's death as a homicide last Thursday, approximately two weeks after the initial discovery.
The property where Ocasio was found is publicly identified through property records as belonging to Conan Harris, the husband of Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). The two-story, seven-bedroom residence, assessed at approximately $919,000, had been operating as a rental property and was recently listed for sale for around $1.15 million. This connection to a prominent federal lawmaker has drawn attention to the ongoing investigation.
Despite the ownership link, Boston police officials have been explicit in stating that there is no evidence to suggest any connection between the property's owners and the homicide. "There is absolutely nothing that indicates any connection to the owners of the property," police officials stated. Shortly after the body was discovered, a spokesperson for Representative Pressley's office echoed this sentiment, offering condolences to the victim's family and confirming that neither the congresswoman nor her family had any involvement in the incident. "The Congresswoman extends her deepest condolences to the impacted family," the spokesperson said. Representative Pressley later expressed her devastation over the young woman's death and conveyed sympathy for Ocasio's family.
The Boston Police Department’s Homicide Unit continues to lead the investigation into Ocasio's death. As of the latest updates, no arrests have been made, and no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the case. Investigators are actively pursuing leads and gathering evidence to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the homicide.
In the days following the discovery, the victim's mother, Elenie Ocasio, publicly identified her daughter and shared her profound grief. Speaking to local media outlets, Elenie Ocasio expressed her belief that the killing stemmed from domestic violence and indicated that she believes she knows who is responsible for her daughter's death. She also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, describing her daughter as deeply loved by family and friends, whose life was tragically cut short before she could fulfill her dreams. In a poignant statement on the GoFundMe page, Elenie Ocasio wrote, "This coward killed my baby. He put a gun to her head, took my baby in that house and left her to die." Authorities, however, have not publicly identified any suspects, nor have they announced whether the killing is officially considered to be related to domestic violence, maintaining that the investigation is active and ongoing. The police department urges anyone with information regarding the case to come forward to assist in bringing justice for Yoseliani Ann Marte Ocasio.
