Man Who Dumped Ex's Body By Schuylkill River Trail Held For Trial

LOWER PROVIDENCE, PA — The Delaware County man who has been charged with stabbing to death his ex-partner, and then dumping her body near the Schuylkill River Trail in Lower Providence Township, will be heading to trial after a lower court judge ruled there was enough evidence in the case for the first-degree murder charges to move forward.

Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Rebar ruled recently that murder charges could proceed against Freddy Remigio Mendieta Pando, 23, of Upper Darby Township, who stands accused of killing ex-girlfriend Karina Torres, 23, back in September.

Investigators say that Pando stabbed Torres to death and left her body about 15 feet off of the Schuylkill River Trail at the trail's Betzwood Trailhead entrance.

Pando was held for court on all charges following his recent preliminary hearing in magisterial district court. A formal arraignment has been scheduled for Dec. 8, according to court records.

Records show that Pando will face charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime.

Court papers show that he continues to be held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. Bail is not offered to defendants in Pennsylvania in first-degree murder cases.

The investigation into Torres' death was handled jointly by the Lower Providence Township Police Department and Montgomery County detectives.

Montgomery County prosecutors say that the killing may have been linked to the fact that Pando was looking at a lengthy prison sentence stemming from a separate, strangulation case out of Delaware County.

Pando stood accused of previously strangling Torres during a domestic altercation. He was looking at potentially spending five to 10 years in prison in that case. Domestic-related strangulation penalties were stiffened over the years in Pennsylvania.

Pando is said to have confessed to Upper Darby police that he killed Torres in Lower Providence, Montgomery County. News reports say that he used a cellphone translation app to tell Upper Darby detectives that he committed the homicide. Pando's native language is reportedly Spanish.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele previously stated that the killing was a tragic example of what could be the end result of domestic violence that goes unaddressed.

A trial date in the case has not yet been set, but a date may be chosen during Pando's formal arraignment next month.

Records show that Pando is being represented by attorney Andres Jalon, of the Norristown law firm Jalon & Associates.