by Florida – A married Florida man accused of killing his pregnant lover after giving her money for an abortion is now standing trial, seven years after the woman’s body was found on a rural roadside.
Jose Soto-Escalera, 48, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the 2018 death of 23-year-old Tania Wise and her unborn baby boy, later named Josiah by her family.
The Case Against Soto-Escalera
Wise’s body was discovered on Aug. 24, 2018, along a country road. Investigators later learned that she had been in a secret relationship with Soto-Escalera and had told him she was pregnant with his child.
According to an arrest affidavit, Wise demanded $500 for an abortion and threatened to tell Soto-Escalera’s wife about the affair if he did not comply. A witness told police they were with Wise when she made the call.
Soto-Escalera allegedly met with Wise the same day and gave her the money. However, investigators say Wise never had the procedure and instead gave the money to someone else.
Days later, witnesses reported that Soto-Escalera was furious, claiming Wise had “played him.” One witness told police the defendant even inquired about getting a “dirty gun.”
DNA and Digital Evidence
When questioned, Soto-Escalera denied having sex with Wise, though he admitted she had stripped for him. He agreed to a DNA test and a search of his cellphone.
The DNA results confirmed that Soto-Escalera was the father of Wise’s unborn son. Cellphone records also placed him near the location where Wise’s body was discovered.
Investigators say his phone showed multiple Google searches for terms such as “dead body in woods” and “wooded area dead body” in the hours before Wise’s body was found.
Trial and Potential Sentence
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case. Jury selection began Wednesday as Soto-Escalera faces trial for the killing of Wise and her unborn child.
The trial is expected to focus heavily on digital evidence, DNA results, and witness testimony about Soto-Escalera’s alleged motive and state of mind leading up to Wise’s death.
