A Manhattan man's murder and dismemberment was heard live by a friend after the killer interrupted his victim's phone call.
Christian Millet, 23, allegedly attacked Edwin Echevarria, 65, while Echevarria was on the phone, the New York Post reported. "He was talking to his friend on the phone and his friend heard the argument — [then] he heard some loud banging, then grunting and moaning," the newspaper quoted Echevarria's nephew, Eric Maldonado.
According to Maldonado, Millet was Echevarria's grandson whom he had taken in. Police alleged that Millet beat Echevarria and then stabbed him 14 times.
After the killing, police allege that Millet dismembered the body, placed Echevarria's torso in a suitcase, and tossed the suitcase in the East River, the newspaper reported.
The caller who heard the killing called police.
"He was killed by someone he trusted," Maldonado told the New York Post. "My brother kept telling him, get him out! Get him out! My brother tried to get him out. But my uncle said he felt bad for the kid and he kept defending him."
Millet allegedly placed other pieces of Echevarria into bags and also threw them in the river, The Daily News reported. Those other bags have not been found.
"I could have sworn I definitely heard buzzing noises in the night," a neighbor told the Daily News. "And I was like thinking somebody's either drilling something or vacuuming and I'm like, who would be drilling this late at night. You don't think people are possibly cutting up a body. That's crazy."
Millet was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday, the newspaper reported. Millet is being held without bail. Police do not have a clear motive for the slaying or what sparked the argument that led to the killing.
