Brutal Stabbing in Frankford Leaves Community Stunned
When 21-year-old Yuleisy Carolina Torrelles Martinez lost contact with her friends in early April 2025, nobody imagined her disappearance would end in a tragic puzzle. After not hearing from her for several days, concerned friends reached out to police, kicking off a frantic missing person search that would uncover a shocking crime in Philadelphia's Frankford neighborhood.
Authorities searched Martinez’s apartment on April 5. What they found inside would haunt even seasoned investigators. Her body was discovered brutally stabbed multiple times in the neck and torso, wrapped in a shower curtain and trash bags, then hidden inside a futon. Detectives immediately recognized the calculated effort it must have taken to conceal the crime, and the case became a priority for Philadelphia’s homicide unit.
Local police worked tirelessly to gather evidence and interviews, quickly identifying 28-year-old Gerelys Sanchez-Reyes as a person of interest. Though details about their relationship or any history between Martinez and Sanchez-Reyes weren’t shared publicly, what made the case even more harrowing was the methodical way the victim was hidden.
International Manhunt Ends in Madrid
The search for Sanchez-Reyes quickly became international. After an arrest warrant was issued, the U.S. Marshals collaborated with authorities overseas to trace her steps halfway across the globe. Over two months passed before they tracked her down in Madrid, Spain, on June 26, 2025. It's not every day that a local Philadelphia homicide leads to a fugitive hunt on another continent.
Spanish and U.S. law enforcement coordinated on the arrest, ensuring that Sanchez-Reyes would not escape justice. She now faces extradition proceedings, which means she’ll be returned to Philadelphia to stand trial for murder and related charges. Legal experts say extraditions from Spain typically move swiftly when the case involves such serious accusations, especially with the clear link to a violent felony.
For now, critical details like the motive and the exact nature of the relationship between Martinez and the suspect remain tightly under wraps. Detectives haven’t ruled out any theories, and they're digging into the backgrounds and any digital footprints that might lead to a deeper understanding of what happened before Martinez’s death.
Neighbors in the Frankford area said the incident has left them shaken. While the sense of relief is palpable with the suspect now in custody, the trauma of the crime and unanswered questions about what drove such violence hang heavy. As the investigation presses on, everyone from Martinez’s friends and family to the homicide detectives is searching for answers.
