NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The city's medical examiner has confirmed charred remains found in a Staten Island storage facility are that of missing mother of three and teacher Jeanine Cammarata.
Police say her estranged husband, 42-year-old Michael Camarrata, and his girlfriend, 41-year-old Ayisha Egea, have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence.
The "charred and unidentifiable" remains were found stuffed in a bag in a plastic bin Thursday at a storage facility on Arden Avenue. The positive identification was made through dental records and the cause of death is pending, said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson.
Michael’s girlfriend reportedly led detectives to the storage facility in the search for 37-year-old Jeanine, who was last seen Saturday night.
Jeanine allegedly dropped off her boyfriend in New Springville before heading to Queens to see her two young children, who were staying with their father.
According to friends and family, the estranged couple were locked in a lengthy custody battle and suspicion arose when Jeanine failed to show up to a custody hearing on Monday.
Police also said Jeanine filed for divorce just two days before she went missing and that the estranged couple had a lengthy history of marital spats.
As authorities were building their case against Michael, he was held on charges of assault and harassment. Though, lawyers for Egea said she was arrested Tuesday and held without ever being charged with a crime.
“In my opinion, the NYPD homicide squad – specifically the Staten Island homicide squad – is playing fast and loose in this case,” attorney Mark Fonte told reporters.
Egea is currently six months pregnant, according to Fonte.
Michael said nothing to reporters as he was led out of the 120th Precinct on Staten Island in a white kevlar hazmat suit with his hands cuffed behind his back.
He and Egea are set to be arraigned Friday afternoon.