In the summer of 2022, a promising new chapter in the life of 39-year-old Marivel Estevez was tragically cut short. A woman known for a smile that could illuminate any room, she was making plans for a fresh start, far from the tumultuous relationship that had come to define her recent years. Estevez, who worked in management at the Allure Mineola, a luxury apartment complex where she also resided, had confided in friends and family that she intended to end her relationship with her boyfriend,
Mark Small, and relocate to Florida. This decision, a beacon of hope for her, would ultimately set in motion a devastating chain of events.
Between the evening of July 28th and the early morning of July 29th, 2022, within the confines of her own Mineola apartment, Estevez's life was violently taken. Small, unwilling to accept her decision to leave, shot her twice. In the aftermath, he fled the scene in her car, taking her dog, Tuffy, with him. The following day, when Estevez failed to appear for work, concerned colleagues requested a wellness check. Police officers entered her apartment to find a grim scene; she was discovered deceased on her bed.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on Mark Small. A bizarre incident on the Long Island Expressway ultimately led to his capture. After being involved in a car accident, Small was struck by another vehicle as he chased after Estevez's dog, which had gotten loose. He was subsequently arrested at the hospital on August 2, 2022. The 55-year-old Elmont man was charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
During the trial, the prosecution painted a clear picture of a man who could not bear the thought of his girlfriend leaving him. Texts from Small to Estevez, with messages like, 'Are you sure about leaving me alone - I can't live without you,' underscored the motive. Despite having no prior arrests or reported domestic incidents, the evidence against him was substantial. In September 2024, a jury found Mark Small guilty of murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Subsequently, he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, a measure of justice for the senseless and calculated act that ended a vibrant life on the cusp of a new beginning.
