A Bronx man has been sentenced to 20 years in state prison for fatally strangling his girlfriend during a domestic dispute inside their apartment in 2023, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced this week.
Jeremy Cortorreal, 35, of 647 Cauldwell Avenue, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on March 13, 2025. He was sentenced on May 14 by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Audrey Stone to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
According to the investigation, Cortorreal killed his girlfriend, 38-year-old Lissette Gomez, sometime between March 21 and March 22, 2023, inside their apartment. He was arrested the following day. Authorities say the fatal assault occurred during an argument that turned violent. Gomez was found unresponsive in the residence, and the medical examiner later confirmed the cause of death as strangulation.
Court records show that Cortorreal had no prior violent felony convictions, but police had previously been called to the couple’s residence for reports of domestic disturbances. Prosecutors pursued manslaughter charges due to evidence that the killing, while intentional, was not premeditated.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence in New York City. According to the NYPD’s Domestic Violence Unit, there were more than 200,000 domestic incident reports filed citywide in 2023, with the Bronx consistently recording one of the highest rates of domestic violence-related homicides among the five boroughs.
In response to rising concerns, city officials have expanded resources for survivors in recent years, including Family Justice Centers and emergency housing programs. The Bronx Family Justice Center, located in the Concourse Village area, provides comprehensive services for survivors, including legal assistance, counseling, and safety planning.
Cortorreal will be transferred to the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. His sentence brings closure to a case that has underscored the deadly consequences of unchecked domestic abuse and the urgent need for continued prevention efforts across the city.
