Nephews of teen arrested after body found in duvet on highway

The cousins ​​of a Connecticut teenager whose body was found wrapped in a comforter on the side of a highway have been charged after his death, PEOPLE can confirm.

At approximately 7:09 a.m. local time on Saturday, November 9, Hartford Police responded to reports of a body found in the area of ​​80 Pope Park Highway, according to a release obtained by PEOPLE.

Police identified the victim as Edgar Josué Chiche Martínez of Hartford, who was days away from celebrating his 19th birthday on Nov. 14 when he died.

“The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Units responded and initiated an investigation. The body was transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office where it was learned that the victim was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds,” the police release said.

Authorities added: “It is believed the body was placed on Pope Park Highway approximately 24 hours prior to its discovery. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the incident occurred approximately one day earlier, in an apartment at 158 ​​Magnolia Street.”

The victim’s family said this NBC Connecticut that the deceased teen lived in the Magnolia Street property with his cousins, who were charged after his death.

Police have confirmed that 21-year-old sender Soto-Veliz has been charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence, while a 17-year-old man – who has not yet been identified – is charged with murder and tampering with evidence.

Soto-Veliz’s bond has been set at $500,000, the release said. He is suspected of helping the unnamed teen dispose of the body, police Lt. Aaron Boisvert confirmed to PEOPLE.

“What we do want is for earthly justice to be done, because God’s justice is on the other side,” the victim’s aunt, Verónica Imelda Martínez Mayen, told NBC Connecticut on Monday.

“He stayed away from parties, he was very friendly,” she added, emphasizing that Martínez was not one to get into trouble.

The victim’s sister, Nimsa Martínez, told the newspaper: “He was the person who always took care of me, even though he was not well. I will remember him as the most beautiful person I could ever know.”

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After the victim’s body was found, the two suspects were located later on Saturday around 7:35 p.m. while driving along Park Terrace, police said in the news release.

The release stated, “At approximately 7:35 p.m., members of the Hartford Police Vice and Narcotics Division, Community Patrol Division and Southwest Community Service Officers located the suspect vehicle traveling on Park Terrace.”

“The suspect vehicle was stopped and the suspects were taken into custody,” it added.

The teen charged is expected to have his case transferred to adult court, Boisvert told PEOPLE.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner did not immediately respond when PEOPLE contacted them.