West New York man accused of sexual assault now indicted on murder charges

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A West New York man accused of sexual assault in relation to a woman’s death back in November has now been indicted on murder charges following an indictment by a grand jury.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

On January 29th, a Hudson County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Edwin Velasco-Salazar, 22, of West New York, charging him with four counts related to the November 1st, 2019 death and alleged sexual assault of Irma Contreras Flores in West New York, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said in a statement.

The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be compression of the neck and the manner of death to be homicide. Velasco-Salazar is expected to be arraigned on the indictment at a date to be determined in February.

The indictment charges Velasco-Salazar with murder, sexual assault, felony murder, and endangering an injured victim.

On November 1st, at approximately 3:40 a.m., members of the West New York Police Department responded to 214 63rd Street on reports of an unconscious woman.

Upon arrival, West New York police officers discovered an unresponsive female in the vestibule area at that location, officials said.

The female was identified as Irma Contreras Flores, 32, of West New York. She was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen and was pronounced dead at approximately 4:20 a.m, authorities said.

On Monday, November 4, 2019, following the preliminary investigation, members of the HCPO arrested Velasco-Salazar and initially charged him with aggravated assault, sexual assault, and endangering an injured victim.

Velasco-Salazar was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny where he has been in custody since his arrest. He was ordered to be detained on November 13th, 2019.

Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit with the investigation, as well as the West New York Police Department for assisting.


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