In the early morning hours of November 9, 2024, a tragedy unfolded at the Travelers Motor Inn Motel in Redford Charter Township, Michigan, resulting in the death of 37-year-old Valentina Liliana Colban. A White / Caucasian female, Valentina was discovered by police inside a motel room just before 5 a.m., suffering from a gunshot wound to the face. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by responding officers and subsequent transportation to a local hospital, she succumbed to her injuries.
Valentina, who was born in Radauti, Romania, on February 10, 1987, was remembered by her loved ones for the joy and warmth she brought into their lives. She worked in customer service and was known for her kindness and patience. Her personal passions included thrift shopping and, most importantly, spending cherished time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews.
The investigation into her death quickly led to the arrest of her 39-year-old boyfriend, Jose Angel Oquendo-Torruella of Detroit. It is alleged that Oquendo-Torruella discharged a handgun, fatally striking Colban. He has since been charged with second-degree murder and felony firearm. Following his arrest, he was arraigned and remanded to jail. A Probable Cause Conference was scheduled for November 19, 2024.
