Jalajhia Finklea

📍 Location

📝 Description

Jalajhia Finklea, an 18-year-old pregnant Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe member, disappeared on October 20, 2020, in the New Bedford, Massachusetts area after reportedly entering a rental car driven by 37-year-old Luis Zaragoza (also known as Luis Barboza/Barboza). She was reportedly undergoing a two-day medical procedure in Boston around that time and had a follow-up appointment the next day. Her cellphone was later located on Route 140 in New Bedford. A body found November 25, 2020, in a field off Interstate 95 in Fellsmere, Florida, was identified as Finklea after an autopsy. The Saint Lucie Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide caused by two gunshot wounds. Zaragoza was killed in Crestview, Florida, on November 5, 2020, during an attempted arrest by U.S. Marshals. Investigators traced Zaragoza’s movements along the East Coast; surveillance footage and digital records, including a note on his phone detailing events and directions to the body, led to the location. As of December 2020, authorities had positively identified the remains and confirmed the homicide; there have been no substantiated public updates since then.

🔍 Circumstances

Disappearance followed by surveillance indicating she entered Zaragoza's rental car in New Bedford; Zaragoza fled south along the East Coast; he was later killed in Crestview, FL during a law enforcement encounter on Nov 5; a body found in Fellsmere, FL on Nov 25 was identified as Finklea; autopsy determined homicide due to two gunshot wounds.

👤 Physical Description

18-year-old female; 5'3"; ~110 lbs; brown hair; hazel eyes; triangle scar on left cheek; five months pregnant at the time of disappearance.

ℹ️ Additional Details

Luis Zaragoza (alias Luis Barbosa/Barboza) was the suspect; he died November 5, 2020, in Crestview, FL during a confrontation with U.S. Marshals; autopsy confirmed two gunshot wounds as the cause of Finklea's death; case involved cross-state investigative efforts; identification confirmed by Saint Lucie Medical Examiner’s Office; official district attorney statements referenced the timeline and evidence including surveillance and phone records.

🔗 Sources (10)

👥 Community Contributions

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