Daniel Cordero murder his girlfriend Shay Modeste at Grand Concourse apartment
After his girlfriend is discovered dead in their apartment, a Bronx man is arrested for two prior ugly incidents involving her.
A frequently arrested Bronx man was arrested Thursday on charges of strangling and threatening to murder his girlfriend in a pair of violent assaults months before her lifeless body was discovered in their apartment, police said.
Daniel Cordero, 34, was arrested one day after cops responded to the couple's Bronx apartment on Saturday and discovered Shay Modeste dead on the bedroom floor, police said. Cordero was not charged in connection with the death while the investigation was ongoing.
Authorities determined Thursday that her death was a homicide. The medical examiner had not yet specified the manner in which she was murdered.
The NYPD's visit to the home on the Grand Concourse near E. 165th St. was not the first. Cops were previously called to the apartment four times to break up fights between the couple, and Cordero is now charged with robbery and aggravated assault in connection with two ugly altercations earlier this year, police said.
Modeste, 35, was found dead with bruises on her neck and body, officials said. She was the mother of a 3-year-old daughter with Cordero.
Cordero's criminal history includes 11 prior arrests on a variety of charges, and the couple, according to police, had a turbulent relationship laced with violence.
Around 4:10 p.m., the boyfriend summoned police to the apartment. According to sources, he told cops he returned home from work and discovered his girlfriend unconscious. He asserted that she had complained of pains prior to his departure for work.
Cordero, who was in the apartment with the small child at the time cops arrived, stated that he attempted CPR but it was too late. According to Cordero, he lifted Modeste from her bed and placed her on the floor in an apparent attempt to save her life.
Cops charged Cordero Sunday for two prior run-ins with the victim, open cases in which he was sought at the time of her death.
In March, he allegedly threatened to kill Modeste over the phone.
Cordero allegedly punched and choked the victim around 5:20 a.m. on Feb. 16 after she complained about his chats with other women. The terrified victim fled the shared apartment, only to return to discover her cellphone, credit card, identification, and home phone were all missing.