In the city of Middletown, New York, the life of Sebastian Eduardo Avilan-Medina, a 26-year-old male of Colombian heritage, was cut short on Monday, March 11, 2019. He was discovered fatally shot inside an apartment located at 23 Knapp Avenue. For years, the investigation into his death remained a challenging cold case, with the Middletown Police Department pursuing hundreds of leads without a breakthrough.
The department even released photos of two individuals they considered prime suspects, seeking the public's assistance in identifying them.
The case lingered without resolution for half a decade, a period of uncertainty for Avilan-Medina's family and friends. Born on March 28, 1992, he was a graduate of Pine Bush High School and Lincoln Technical Institute. He was a business owner, having started Avilan Auto Sales in Middletown, and was known for his dedication and strong work ethic. He was a father, leaving behind a son.
A significant development in the cold case finally came in the spring of 2024. Through the collaborative efforts of the City of Middletown Police Department, the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the New York State Police, and the New York State Division of Parole, a suspect was identified and apprehended. In April, Dijion D. Constantine, a 23-year-old from the Bronx, was arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree for the death of Avilan-Medina. He was arraigned in Middletown City Court and subsequently remanded to the Orange County Jail.
The progress in the investigation did not stop with the initial arrest. The following month, on May 13, 2024, two more suspects were taken into custody. Douglas R. McFarlane, 24, and Sheldon M. Paul, 39, were also charged with murder in connection with Avilan-Medina's death. Like Constantine, they were arraigned in Middletown City Court and are being held in the Orange County Jail. Despite these arrests, authorities have indicated that the investigation remains ongoing as they work to identify any other individuals who may have been involved.
