Two men were recently arrested for killing a 19-year-old man who was found dead in Massapequa Preserve five months ago, Nassau County police said Tuesday.
Carlos Portillo, 22, of Hempstead, and 19-year-old Kevin Granados-Coreas of Rosedale were each charged with second-degree murder.
Homicide Squad detectives alleged that the duo killed Julio Cesar Gonzales-Espantzay, whose body was found in the preserve near Seaview Avenue and Ocean Avenue at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 23.
Investigators said the suspects killed the victim to gain stature in their gang, MS-13, which authorities have blamed for a slew of other recent murders on Long Island. Police had initially released a sketch of the victim before he was identified two weeks after his discovery.
The arrests come after Nassau police said they are adding security cameras to the preserve to deter crime in the area, which included several cases of nude men harassing female joggers along the pedestrian path in the park last year.
Portillo, who was arrested on July 29, was ordered held without bail. He is due back in court Sept. 9. Granados-Coreas will be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.
