In the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, a tragic and violent event unfolded on Valentine's Day in 1993, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Edwin Santiago and five other individuals. The victims were discovered in an apartment on Prospect Avenue, all having been shot execution-style. Besides Santiago, the deceased were identified as his mother, Julia Santana, 49; his sister, Maria Santana, 26; and three family friends: Miguel Rivera, 23; Annette Medina, 17; and Christopher Hernandez, 15.
The motive for the massacre was later determined to be an act of revenge orchestrated by Anthony Casellas. The tragic chain of events was set in motion when Edwin Santiago had previously assaulted Casellas's wife, Lourdes.
The investigation into the six homicides quickly led to the identification of suspects. The mastermind, Anthony Casellas, and four accomplices—Luis Ramos, Eliot Lopez, Luis Romero, and Edgardo Rosado—were arrested and charged with the murders. According to authorities, Casellas planned the attack in retaliation for the beating of his wife. The perpetrators gained entry to the apartment building where the victims were located and carried out the killings. One of the men later admitted to murdering Edwin Santiago.
In a dramatic and violent turn of events just ten days after the massacre, Lourdes Casellas, the wife of Anthony Casellas, was shot and killed in the lobby of the Bronx County Courthouse. Her killer was identified as Gilberto Ortiz, a friend of Edwin Santiago, who was seeking revenge for the Valentine's Day killings. Ortiz was subsequently arrested and charged with her murder.
The legal proceedings following the massacre resulted in the convictions of all involved in the planning and execution of the murders. In 1994, Anthony Casellas was sentenced to 162 years to life in prison. His accomplices also received lengthy sentences: Luis Ramos was sentenced to 52 years to life, Eliot Lopez to 30 years to life, and both Luis Romero and Edgardo Rosado received 15 years to life. In a separate civil lawsuit, the landlord of the apartment building where the massacre occurred was found partially liable for the deaths due to inadequate security and was ordered to pay millions to the victims' families.
