Ivelisse Berrios-Beguerisse, a 20-year-old Hispanic woman, was tragically murdered on November 27, 1990, in Coral Springs, Florida. At the time of her death, she had been married for less than a year and worked at the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Broward County. She was abducted after finishing her shift on the night of November 26, 1990, and her body was discovered the following day.
The cause of death was asphyxiation, and evidence suggested she had been sexually assaulted.
For years, the case remained unsolved, leaving her family and community without answers. However, in 2014, advancements in DNA testing provided a breakthrough. DNA evidence linked her murder to Oba Chandler, a man who had already been executed in 2011 for the 1989 murders of Joan Rogers and her two teenage daughters. Chandler, a serial killer, was known for his predatory behavior and had a history of targeting women. At the time of Ivelisse's murder, Chandler lived just 1.5 miles from the mall where she worked. Investigators discovered that he abruptly left his residence in Sunrise, Florida, shortly after her death, leaving behind furniture and other belongings.
Although Chandler could not be formally charged with Ivelisse's murder due to his execution, the DNA evidence provided closure to the case. Law enforcement officials confirmed that Chandler had raped and killed her, solidifying his connection to yet another heinous crime. This revelation underscored the importance of advancements in forensic science in solving cold cases and bringing justice to victims and their families.
