Family and friends of a woman who police say was killed by her boyfriend in Salem, Massachusetts, held a vigil Monday night.
The victim’s mother described what a great daughter and mother 20-year-old Nayeli Nieves had been to her two young children.
“We are all going to miss her in our hearts,” Carmen Cobián said, fighting back tears. “Again, we all just want justice for Nayeli.”
Nieves’s family, along with Salem city council members, police officers and firefighters, lit a candle in her memory during the vigil.
“On behalf of the City of Salem, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Nayeli’s family,” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo.
Police say Pablo Vicente, 33, Nieves’ boyfriend, admitted killing her in her Pope Street apartment while their children were home and then putting her body in a dumpster. Nearly a week after Vicente was accused of her murder in court, Nieves’s body has still not been found.
Nieves’s father, Samuel, says that these last few days have been difficult without knowing where he is.
“He, like the whole family, have been doing our own searches in the woods. We have not stopped searching. We keep looking for her until we get answers,” said a woman who spoke with Samuel Nieves. “He can’t handle this pain anymore and until he finds his daughter, he won’t be able to get…he won’t be able to live with the pain.”
Police say they began an investigation into a domestic violence situation involving Nieves in July.
“From the first call we got, there were warning signs. A deeper look showed a history of abuse. There was a recent separation and relocation,” Salem Police Officer Max Zirin said.
The police emphasize that Nieves’s case had been prioritized from the first day they received the call.
“I wanted to share something from our side as it shows that Nayeli was concerned about her situation and was working to act on those concerns. She was not ignored,” Zirin said.
Nieves’ relatives have said they blame the system for his death, pointing to Vicente’s history of alleged abuse.
The Essex district attorney has called this another example of “appalling domestic violence, a young mother taken by her partner’s violence.”
Vicente pleaded not guilty during his arraignment last week. He is being held without bail and is expected to return to court on September 8.
Nieves’ two young children, ages 3 years and 18 months, were placed in the care of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. There was no update Monday on the children.
