The CT mom was found buried behind a restaurant in 2020. Boyfriend pleads guilty to murder

A New Haven man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the 2020 disappearance and killing of his longtime girlfriend whose body was found near a Branford parking lot.

A Connecticut man pleaded guilty this week to the 2020 disappearance and killing of his longtime girlfriend whose body was found near a parking lot, officials said.

Jonnathan Jara-Aucapina, 30, of New Haven, pleaded guilty before Judge Gerald L. Harmon to a charge of murder, according to New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr.  Under the plea agreement, Jara-Aucapina faces a total effective sentence of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced in New Haven Superior Court on April 2.

According to court records, on July 3, 2020, Jara-Aucapina reported Lizzbeth Aleman-Popoca, his longtime girlfriend and mother of his daughter, missing.

During the investigation, the East Haven Police Department learned that before Jara-Aucapina filed a missing person report, he killed Aleman-Popoca and buried her in a shallow grave behind LoMonaco’s Restaurant in Branford, where he was a part-time employee, officials said.

Aleman-Popoca first disappeared between June 30 and July 1, 2020. Her body was found by authorities two weeks later, according to previous reports.

Jara-Aucapina was reportedly seen purchasing a hoe and shovel at the Home Depot in East Haven before driving out to the restaurant in the victim’s vehicle, according to court records.

Court records showed that investigators learned that Jara-Aucapina had crafted a story that Aleman-Popoca had run off, police said. They believe that Jara-Aucapina used that story to lie to family and law enforcement when she was reported missing.

Jara-Aucapina was arrested on Dec. 27, 2020, at a New Haven diner.

“At this time, I would like to extend my condolences to the friends and family of Ms. Aleman-Popoca who have endured such an unimaginable loss due to this senseless crime,” Doyle said. “I also would like to express my gratitude to the East Haven Police Department, the Connecticut State Police and the FBI for their investigative efforts in this case.”