Suspect ID'ed After Woman Found Dead In PA Dumpster

COOPERSBURG, PA — The husband of a New Jersey mother of four, whose body was found in a dumpster in Pennsylvania, has been charged with her murder.

Rolando Corte, 42, of Elizabeth, NJ, was arrested on Sunday and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Lucrecia E. Jadan Sumba, 39 of Elizabeth, officials said.

On Jan. 9, Sumba's family and friends reported her missing to the Elizabeth Police Department after having last seen her the day before. After a thorough investigation, Sumba's remains were found behind the Santander Bank in the 200 block of S. 3rd Street in Coopersburg, PA, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.

The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office conducted the autopsy and found that the cause of death was "sharp force injuries." Her death was ruled a homicide on Monday.

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. 12.

He is being held at the Union County Jail pending his first appearance scheduled for Jan. 16.

"A very unfortunate and tragic incident. It was found that her husband and life partner for over 23 years, father of her four children was responsible of her death," according to a GoFundMe fundraiser website set up for Sumba's children — Leonel Corte Jadan (21), Christian Corte Jadan(19), Danny Corte Jadan(18), and Eidan Corte Jadan(5).

Sumba came to the United States in October 2021 "looking for a better future for her family." She began working as a house cleaner and babysitter. She then moved on to work at Princess Nail Salon in Elizabeth.

"She started working very hard in collecting the funds to bring her children one by one. Lucrecia Elizabeth has been known to be a hardworking lovely and caring mother, a great coworker, very responsible and always bringing a smile to all around her. She was also known as 'La Tia' in her workplace, where not only her coworkers would call her that but also her clients when referring to her in a lovely way," according to the GoFundMe.

A Funeral Service for Sumba will be held this upcoming Sunday, Jan. 19, at Las Rosas Bannworth Funeral Home, 1055 E Jersey St, Elizabeth from 2 to 8 p.m.

Anyone with information should contact the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force Sergeant Lamar Hartsfield at 908-451-1873, Detective Wojciech Dziadosz at 908-347-2212 or Elizabeth Police Detective Veronica Garcia at 908-457-0464.

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