2 People Indicted For Brutal 2021 Port Jeff Murder Of Landscaper: DA

PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY — Two Port Jefferson residents were recently indicted for the 2021 fatal stabbing of a landscaper in Setauket-Greenway Walking Trail, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced.

Jose Martinez-Vazquez, 24, and Tiffany Diaz-Cabrera, 20, both of Port Jefferson, are charged with second-degree murder before County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis.

Diaz-Cabrera was arraigned on Tuesday. Martinez-Vazquez was arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday.

On June 17, 2021, Martinez-Vazquez and Diaz-Cabrera, targeted 39-year-old Benjamin Flores-Mendez and followed him into the Port Jefferson Station entrance of the Setauket-Greenway Walking Trail, according to an investigation.

The two allegedly acted in concert in the fatal stabbing of Flores-Mendez. He was discovered later with at least 10 stab wounds at the paved entrance to the trail shortly before 1 a.m., prosecutors said.

“These defendants allegedly followed the victim and violently attacked him,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This was a senseless and cold-blooded execution of an innocent unsuspecting man. Bringing justice to Mr. Flores-Mendez and his loved ones is our priority as we continue together evidence for this heinous crime.”

Martinez-Vazquez and Diaz-Cabrera were arrested on March 5, officials said.

Diaz-Cabrera is due back in court on April 25. Her co-defendant, Martinez-Vazquez was arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday and his next court date is April 26, 2023.

Judge Wilutis ordered both defendants without bail.

Patch has reached out to Luigi Belcastro, the duo's attorney, for comment.