NY NY - Sonia Centeno, 44, LaGrange / Poughkeepsie, 4 Aug 2006

[AutumnAkasha]

2006 killing of Sonia Centeno

The old Porter Farm, located on Mountain Road in LaGrange, where the remains of Sonia Centeno were found on Aug. 4, 2006. (Photo: Courtesy photo)

The scene were Centeno was found. Photo credit: NYSP.


Cold case: Who killed Sonia Centeno?

LAGRANGE - A decade after her remains were found on a farm in a shallow grave, state police are still working to solve the mystery of who killed Sonia Centeno.

The City of Poughkeepsie woman was found Aug. 4, 2006 after police were dispatched that afternoon to 123 Mountain Road in the Town of LaGrange.

According to police, two Dutchess County residents were walking the old Porter Farm, located on Mountain Road, when they found what appeared to be a human hand partially buried in a shallow grave and called 911.

Twelve days later, the victim was identified as 44-year-old Centeno. She may have been deceased for approximately 3 to 7 months before she was found, according to the investigation.

State police Troop K, which covers Dutchess, Putnam, Columbia and Westchester counties, is currently handling 53 cold cases involving either a missing person, unidentified remains, or a homicide, according to state police spokeswoman Trooper Melissa McMorris. Cold cases are continually reviewed by the major crime unit, McMorris said.


Anyone with information regarding the death of Centeno is asked to contact Investigator Karen Shaw of the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Poughkeepsie at 845-677-7300, and refer to SJS #1648674. All calls may be kept confidential.

New York State Crime Stoppers in cooperation with The New York State Police, Troop K Poughkeepsie is still offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the death of Centeno. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State CrimeStoppers Hotline at 1-866-313-TIPS (8477). All callers may remain anonymous.

Abbott Brant: [email protected], 845-437-4809, Twitter:

New York State Police Newsroom: Cold Case Tuesday: Troop K continues to investigate a 2006 homicide in the Town of LaGrange

PRESS RELEASE

Cold Case Tuesday: Troop K continues to investigate a 2006 homicide in the Town of LaGrange

New York State Police from the Poughkeepsie barracks continue to investigate the 12-year-old homicide of 44-year-old Sonia Centeno of Poughkeepsie, New York.

On August 4, 2006 at approximately 3:55 p.m., the New York State Police were dispatched to 123 Mountain Road in the Town of LaGrange to investigate the discovery of human remains.

Two Dutchess County residents were walking the old Porter Farm located on Mountain Road when they located what appeared to be a human hand partially buried in a shallow grave and called 911.

On August 16, 2016, the victim was positively identified as Sonia Centeno.

The death of Centeno continues to be actively investigated by police. Numerous leads have been followed-up on throughout this investigation, however, this homicide has never been solved.

Centeno is described as a Hispanic female, approximately 5’3”, 117 lbs., with a winged lion tattoo on her chest. She was reported to have been seen in the Main Street area of Poughkeepsie during the winter of 2006.

When she was discovered, Centeno was wearing black high heeled ankle booties, blue fleece Okemo Ski area zip-up vest, and a dark colored tunic. The investigation indicates that Centeno may have been deceased for approximately 3-7 months.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Poughkeepsie by calling (845) 677-7300. Please refer to SJS # 1648674. All calls may be kept confidential.

New York State Crime Stoppers Offers Reward for Information in Womans Death

New York State Crime Stoppers Offers Reward for Information in Womans Death
JANUARY 16, 2009


New York State Crime Stoppers in cooperation with The New York State Police, Troop K Poughkeepsie is offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the death of Sonia Centeno. Sonia Centeno was a City of Poughkeepsie resident whose body was found on August 4, 2006 in a shallow grave at a vacant farm in the Town of Lagrange east of Poughkeepsie New York. Ms. Centeno was described as a Hispanic female approx 5’3”, 117lbs, 44 years of age with a winged lion tattoo on her chest.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State CrimeStoppers Hotline at 1-866-313-TIPS (8477). All callers may remain anonymous.

New York State Crime Stoppers is a not-for-profit organization formed to assist law enforcement throughout the state by offering rewards for information about particular crimes that will lead to arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible.

Cold Case Tuesday: 2006 Homicide Of Sonia Centeno

Cold Case Tuesday: 2006 Homicide Of Sonia Centeno
New York State Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $2,500 cash reward for information leading to arrest and conviction.
By Michael Woyton, Patch Staff | Aug 7, 2018 12:10 pm ET | Updated Aug 7, 2018 12:12 pm ET
When her body was discovered, Centeno was wearing black high heeled ankle booties, blue fleece Okemo Ski area zip-up vest, and a dark colored tunic. The investigation indicates that Centeno may have been dead for approximately 3 to 7 months.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Poughkeepsie by calling 845-677-7300. Please refer to SJS # 1648674. All calls may be kept confidential.

New York State Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $2,500 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Centeno. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State CrimeStoppers Hotline at 1-866-313-TIPS (8477). All callers may remain anonymous.

 

[Still No Answer]

Just here to bump Sonia's thread. I have been researching Sonia's case for a podcast episode on my new pod that will be covering undereported cold cases and missing persons (ETHICAL and TRAUMA INFORMED Pod) for some time now and have filed a FOIA on her cold case, it was denied, I appealed, the appeal was denied recently, but I was invited to resubmit in a certain time frame, which I will. Her case has been cold for 19 years now and she deserves coverage and justice.

 

[heartsandglisses]

Just here to bump Sonia's thread. I have been researching Sonia's case for a podcast episode on my new pod that will be covering undereported cold cases and missing persons (ETHICAL and TRAUMA INFORMED Pod) for some time now and have filed a FOIA on her cold case, it was denied, I appealed, the appeal was denied recently, but I was invited to resubmit in a certain time frame, which I will. Her case has been cold for 19 years now and she deserves coverage and justice.

Do you know if she had an open missing persons case prior to the discovery of her remains? After a bit of digging ive found that she has children but can't find anything about an investigation during the months leading up to her finding.

 

[heartsandglisses]

ust here

filed a FOIA on her cold case, it was denied, I appealed, the appeal was denied recently, but I was invited to resubmit in a certain time frame, which I will. Her case has been cold for 19 years now and she dese

2006 killing of Sonia Centeno

The old Porter Farm, located on Mountain Road in LaGrange, where the remains of Sonia Centeno were found on Aug. 4, 2006. (Photo: Courtesy photo)

The scene were Centeno was found. Photo credit: NYSP.


Cold case: Who killed Sonia Centeno?


New York State Police Newsroom: Cold Case Tuesday: Troop K continues to investigate a 2006 homicide in the Town of LaGrange


New York State Crime Stoppers Offers Reward for Information in Womans Death


Cold Case Tuesday: 2006 Homicide Of Sonia Centeno

After doing a few hours of research, I've come up with a bit of information. Prior to her death she was employed at a local Kmart, was said to roller-skate around as transportation, she has three children (one whom I am aware had to identify her,) who were supposedly taken at a young age. (this explains the lack of missing persons report.) a past of prostitution which is said to have been cut off prior to the homicide. The police never revealed the cause of death. I and a few others had speculated her killer could have been Kendall Francois. His other victims were all sex workers whom he was a repeat customer with. However the time frame wouldn't have made sense. It's possible it could be a copycat, someone likeminded, maybe?

 

[Still No Answer]

After doing a few hours of research, I've come up with a bit of information. Prior to her death she was employed at a local Kmart, was said to roller-skate around as transportation, she has three children (one whom I am aware had to identify her,) who were supposedly taken at a young age. (this explains the lack of missing persons report.) a past of prostitution which is said to have been cut off prior to the homicide. The police never revealed the cause of death. I and a few others had speculated her killer could have been Kendall Francois. His other victims were all sex workers whom he was a repeat customer with. However the time frame wouldn't have made sense. It's possible it could be a copycat, someone likeminded, maybe?

Hi hearts and glisses! It is correct that Francois was not active when Sonia was killed and her murder occurred post arrest. He was arrested 9/1998, almost a decade before. Sonia was not reported missing ( that I can find) she had been last seen in poughkeepsie Ny (main street area) in the winter of 2006, there has been zero reporting of her movements, life, or activity in the months prior to her murder and all of that remains a mystery.

The police have also said that when Sonia's body was discovered in August 2006 at the abandoned barn she could have been there for "several months" "to a year" "possibly as early as winter 2005" . I am famaliar with the area that Sonia was found, it is truly isolated and rural, and I feel the killer would have had to known where the abandoned farm was to leave her body there. It is not far from Main St. Poughkeepsie (not rural at all ), about a 15 minute drive (8 miles) . I have come across her children in my research but do not reach out, preferring to allow family members to reach out to me if they want to at some point , for fear of traumatizing them all over again.

I have also come across comments about Sonia from former friends that knew her, and the overwhelming sentiment seems to be how nice and kind Sonia was. Someone that would not hurt a fly. I am hoping to reshape the stories of these victims who are not given the press, (even in the beginning) whose cases have gone cold, and who may be framed by their challenges in their lives and are largely stigmatized. Because no matter the challenges and risk factors, they deserve justice.