New Jersey Man Accused of Killing Girlfriend for Breaking Up With Him, Driving Around With Her Body for Hours Before Dumping It Near Golf Course
LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY — A New Jersey man is facing murder charges after allegedly strangling his girlfriend to death when she tried to end their relationship, driving around for hours with her body in his car, and sending fake messages from her phone to make it appear she was still alive.
35-year-old Andres F. Calvachi-Paz of Newark was arrested this week and charged with first-degree murder, disturbing human remains, and theft, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
The victim, 28-year-old Dayana Chisaguano Maleza, was found dead near the Cedar Hill Golf Course in Livingston on October 29 after a course employee noticed a foul smell while chasing deer off the property. Following the odor, he discovered her body in a small wooded area just off Walnut Street, roughly 25 miles west of Manhattan.
‘She Wanted to End the Relationship,’ Prosecutors Say
Authorities said Calvachi-Paz and Maleza shared an apartment in Newark and had been in a long-term relationship. Earlier this month, they got into an argument in which Maleza told him she wanted to end things.
Prosecutors allege Calvachi-Paz responded with violence, strangling her to death inside their shared home.
“Following the argument, the defendant strangled the victim, causing her death,” prosecutors wrote in a statement. “He then transported her body from the scene.”
After killing her, police say Calvachi-Paz loaded Maleza’s body into his car and drove around for several hours before deciding to dispose of it near the golf course.
Fake Messages Sent to Conceal the Murder
In a desperate attempt to cover up the killing, Calvachi-Paz allegedly used Maleza’s phone to send texts and photos to family and friends — creating the illusion that she was alive and traveling.
“Afterward, Calvachi-Paz engaged in an elaborate scheme to make it appear as though the victim was still alive, including sending messages from her cellphone,” prosecutors said.
Investigators later determined that the messages were sent after her death, helping them piece together the timeline of events.
Discovery and Arrest
Police say the body may have been in the wooded area for several days before it was discovered. Once identified, detectives quickly connected the crime to Calvachi-Paz, who eventually confessed to killing Maleza during questioning, authorities said.
He was booked into the Essex County Jail without bond and is expected to make his first court appearance in the coming days.
A Crime That Shocked the Community
The murder has shaken the Newark and Livingston communities, with prosecutors calling it an act of cruel control and calculated deception.
“This was not a moment of panic — it was a deliberate killing followed by an elaborate effort to hide the truth,” an investigator close to the case told WPIX.
Maleza’s friends described her as ambitious and kind, saying she worked hard to build a new life after moving to the U.S.
Calvachi-Paz faces a potential life sentence if convicted.
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