Worcester murder suspects face upgraded charges in shooting deaths of mother, daughter
WORCESTER - Karel Mangual, one of two men charged in the horrific shooting deaths of a young mother and her daughter in Worcester last week, pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to two counts of murder.
Mangual, 28, hid behind a door during his brief arraignment in Worcester Central District Court. He will remain held without bail and is due back in court April 12.
Police say Mangual and 27-year-old Dejan Belnavis were the two men seen in surveillance video ambushing an SUV parked on Englewood Avenue in the middle of the afternoon on March 5.
Twenty-seven-year-old Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter Zella were killed in the gunfire.
There's no word yet on a motive.
"She had no enemies," Chasity's friend Ashley Rivera said. She can't imagine why anyone would target Chasity. "Anybody that knew her loved her. Very outgoing person. So, for two guys to come and do this to her," Rivera said shaking her head.
Mangual was arrested a day after the attack. He was initially held without bail on charges of armed assault to murder and carrying a gun without a license. Those charges were dropped and officially upgraded to two counts of murder Tuesday.
Belnavis was captured by U.S. Marshals in San Diego, California Monday. He was also charged with armed assault to murder and carrying a gun without a license. Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early said Belnavis will face upgraded murder charges when he is brought back from California. According to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, Belnavis will be in San Diego Superior Court Friday morning.
Police found both suspects by tracking their cars and cell phones, and it appears, through pressing their family members.
Belnavis' mother would not answer the door on Tuesday, but she, too, was in court Tuesday morning on a 12-year-old minor driving infraction. Court documents reveal her son allegedly used her boyfriend's car to escape the murder scene.
Neighbors say they've seen Belnavis in the neighborhood. "He would give me like a friendly wave when I was like out doing yardwork or mowing the lawn, but really didn't have much interaction with them," said Joe Allario, Belnavis' neighbor.
Neighbors were shocked to see his picture in a wanted poster and police cars parked by his mother's house Monday.
"This is a quiet, residential neighborhood, and a lot of nice people live here," Allario said. "Everyone walks their dogs, there's new family sprouting up. Just to hear something like that, it's a little disheartening."
Chasity Nunez had been a patient administration specialist in the Connecticut Army National Guard for the last four years, according to spokesman Maj. David Pytlik.
"Chasity was beloved by her fellow Soldiers in the 142nd Medical Company," he said in a statement.
"Her wit, social nature and dedication to duty made her one of the best Soldiers in our unit. I cannot begin to make sense of why this happened and why her family, friends, co-workers and fellow Soldiers have been robbed of her and Zella. What we can, and must do now, is support one another as we grieve, process this profound loss and honor their memory."
"I'd describe Chasity as incredibly resilient, brilliantly intelligent, destined for success in her civilian and military careers, and more full of compassion than anyone I know," Pytlik said.
