Vanessa Jessica Cocly, a 23-year-old resident of Orlando, Florida, tragically lost her life on March 31, 2018. Vanessa was reported missing by her family after she failed to return home from an outing. Her parents tracked her phone to the residence of her ex-boyfriend, Christian Ruben Valentin Penchi. Initially, they were not overly concerned, but their worry grew when Vanessa did not show up for her new job at Disney or for Easter dinner.
Her mother reported her missing on April 2, 2018.
Investigators discovered that Christian had left for Puerto Rico shortly after Vanessa's disappearance. He had also pawned a .380 caliber handgun, raising suspicions. Vanessa's car was found near Christian's home, with her belongings inside. On April 5, 2018, a search warrant was executed at Christian's condo, where Vanessa's body was found in the bathroom with a gunshot wound to the head. Christian was arrested in Puerto Rico the following day and charged with first-degree murder.
Christian Valentin Penchi later confessed to the crime, stating he was under the influence of drugs at the time. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison in April 2019. Vanessa's family expressed their grief and loss during the sentencing, highlighting the impact of her untimely death on their lives.
