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A grieving family is remembering an 18-year-old woman who was found dead inside a Boston rental home at 25 Malta Street owned by Conan Harris, the husband of Rep. Ayanna Pressley. Authorities identified the victim as Yoseliani Marte.
Family Speaks Out as Investigation Continues
Boston Police Department Officer James Moccia said officers arrived to a home in the city’s Mattapan neighborhood round 1:50 p.m. on July 18, after receiving a call to “investigate a person.” When officers arrived, the call was reclassified as a death investigation. Moccia said, “This death investigation is currently being handled by the BPD Homicide Unit.”
Later that day, an autopsy was performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston. According to WBZ-TV, a single gunshot wound was cited as the cause of death. The manner of death remains undetermined pending additional forensic testing.
‘My Daughter Was a Victim of Domestic Violence’
Marte’s mother, Elenie Ocasio, said that she believes her daughter was a victim of domestic violence. She also said that she knows who is responsible for her daughter’s death, though she did not identify anyone by name. Meanwhile, police have not publicly identified a suspect or announced any arrests. Ocasio said, “This coward killed my baby. He put a gun to her head, took my baby in that house and left her to die.”
Ocasio also rejected the idea that her daughter took her own life. She said, “My daughter didn’t deserve this. My daughter did not deserve this, and it’s all going to come out to light. Everything’s gonna come out.”
The sidewalk outside the home is filled with a memorial of candles and balloons where friends gathered on July 20 to honor Marte.
Ocasio said, “I’m in shock. I have not seen my baby. I have not seen her laid out yet. It has not hit me yet. I’m not grieving yet. I’m hoping and I’m praying, and I’ll do my best to get justice for my daughter.”
In a GoFundMe campaign, her family described her as “someone so young, with so many dreams, hopes, and milestones still ahead of her,” adding that “domestic violence has taken a beautiful young life far too soon.”
How is Pressley’s Husband Linked With the Case?
According to property records, Marte was found in a rental property owned by Conan Harris, husband Ayanna Pressley. Harris previously served as a senior public safety adviser at Boston City Hall. He later started his own consulting firm in 2019.
A spokesperson for Pressley told People that the congresswoman is not the property’s personal landlord. The spokesperson said, “The Congresswoman extends her deepest condolences to the impacted family.”
