John Jefferson
Background: The dumpster where the body of Lucrecia Jadan Sumba was found (WPVI/YouTube). Insets: Lucrecia Jadan Sumba and her husband Rolando Corte (GoFundMe/Essex County Department of Corrections).
A mother of four from New Jersey was murdered by her “husband and life partner” of over 23 years — with police saying she suffered “sharp force injuries” at his hands — before being discarded in a dumpster by him and brushed off as missing, her family alleges.
“Her husband, Rolando Corte, stated that he did not know where she was at and seemed very disinterested of her whereabouts,” a GoFundMe reads for the family of victim Lucrecia Jadan Sumba, who was found dead in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Sumba, 39, of Elizabeth, was allegedly killed by Corte, 42, sometime after Jan. 9, which is when she was reported missing by co-workers after she failed to show up for work that day, according to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. Sumba’s body was found in a dumpster Saturday in the 200 block of S. 3rd Street in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, and her death was listed as a homicide caused by “sharp force injuries” by the coroner and prosecutor’s office.
Details about what caused the injuries have not been released. Corte has been charged with first-degree murder.
“On Saturday January 11, 2025, our dearest friend and colleague, Lucrecia Elizabeth Jadan Sumba was found [dead] in Pennsylvania,” the GoFundMe says. “A very unfortunate and tragic incident.”
The GoFundMe then says that “her husband and life partner for over 23 years” was “responsible for her death.” The organizers state that the fundraiser was created for Sumba’s children, three of whom are identified in the description as being 21, 18 and 5. “Unfortunately, this tragic heartbreaking incident was very unexpected, and we need the help and support from the community,” the description reads.
Sumba is described as a “mother of four” who was born in Ecuador; she “started to migrate to the United States” in October 2021, the description says.
“A very hardworking woman, raising her children with love and sacrifices, Lucrecia Elizabeth decided to come to the United States looking for a better future for her family,” the GoFundMe explains. “She first started working cleaning houses and as a babysitter, later she started working at a nail salon in Elizabeth.”
The page, which has been confirmed by the local independent TV station WFMZ, was launched by Sumba’s friends and co-workers.
“On Monday Jan. 6, 2025, and Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, Lucrecia Elizabeth came in to work as usual, punctual and with a great attitude to work,” the GoFundMe says. “Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, was her day off, and as usual she woke up and took Danny and Eidan to school. On Thursday … Lucrecia Elizabeth did not show up to work. Her boss, Abigail, along with her co-workers started wondering about her whereabouts and it’s very unusual for her not to show up to work or call to inform if she was not able to go to work. Abigail and her coworkers, call her many times, left voicemails and finally went to her house looking for her.”
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The prosecutor’s office says Sumba’s family and friends reported her missing to the Elizabeth Police Department and after a “thorough investigation” her body was discovered in Coopersburg, which is about 50 miles north of Philadelphia.
“A joint investigation conducted by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force, Elizabeth Police Department, Coopersburg Police Department, and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office led to the identification and arrest of Corte on Jan. 12th,” the prosecutor’s office said. He is being held at the Union County Jail pending his first court appearance, which is scheduled for Thursday.
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