The tragic tale of Jorge Gonzalez, a 37-year-old blind man, has horrified the Lake Worth community. Thus far, his lifeless body was found on a New York City subway train, causing family members and friends to be heartbroken. Gonzalez, who lived through a stormy existence that included challenges with addiction to alcohol, passed away due to liver cirrhosis. His body was found at the Whitehall Street stop in lower Manhattan around 12:30 AM on April 9. Since then, allegations have come to light that his body was sexually penetrated post mortem, and the police are investigating those claims.
With little money or hope left, at 24, Gonzalez decided to move to the United States to build a new life. He toiled in construction and restaurants, resolute on building a different future. He encountered Teresa, a 38-year-old resident of Brooklyn, in a tiny Mexican village where she had deep family roots. As they were building the business, the young couple fell in love and married when Teresa was 24. Along the way, they welcomed a son, now 13 years old. While they found success, their family paid the price, as Gonzalez left in 1999, all while rarely if ever making contact.
Teresa shared her disbelief at what happened after her husband’s death.
“I was shocked – just shocked and more than anything scared for [Gonzalez’s] mom,” – Teresa
The police are still actively searching for two suspects in Gonzalez’s murder. One is charged with sexual misconduct with a corpse, the other with grand larceny. The first autopsy performed on Gonzalez was inconclusive, and a cause of death could not be determined as further tests are still underway.
His son described how he felt lost and abandoned, saying,
“Now I really don’t have a dad.”
Theresa explained that even when he turned to alcoholism, that still impacted how or if he would stay home.
“That’s the biggest reason why he ended up in the situation where he was,” – Teresa
As investigations move forward, the community must deal with the horrific reality of such an incident. The authorities remain vigilant in pursuing leads as they work to bring justice to Gonzalez’s family and determine the full circumstances surrounding his death and subsequent mistreatment.
Gonzalez’s personal journey sheds light on the struggles immigrants endure in America today. It illustrates how the scars of private battles can profoundly affect those closest to you. His family now faces an uncertain future without him, navigating their grief while seeking answers to the questions surrounding his final days.