Pa. man accused of fatally strangling his mother-in-law and wrapping her head with duct tape

DOVER, Pa. (TCD) — A 42-year-old man stands accused of beating and strangling his mother-in-law to death and resisting arrest earlier this week.

According to a news release from the Northern York County Regional Police Department, on Tuesday, June 6, officers responded to the area near 79 South Main Street after a “neighbor reported that a female at the address had asked her to call police.”

At the scene, as police spoke with William Emilio Torres Gautier, his wife stood behind him and mouthed “help me,” a criminal complaint obtained by WGAL-TV alleges.

Police said two small children were in the back area of the home at the time.

Officials reportedly tried speaking with the female, but Gautier “pushed a section of wooden fence at officers,” and he hit one of them. After a short struggle, police took Gautier into custody.

Gautier allegedly spat at an officer and broke a camera system and window when being placed in the patrol car.

The suspect’s wife told police her mother needed help, so officers entered the home and located the 67-year-old woman deceased in a bedroom. WGAL reports that her body was found under a pile of clothes with her head and face wrapped with duct tape. She also reportedly had coat hangers around her neck with her hands tied behind her back. The victim had allegedly been stabbed in the back with scissors as well.

According to a report from the York County Coroner’s Office, officials identified the victim as Lourdes Ramos Baez and determined she died due to blunt force head and neck injuries with strangulation.

Police interviewed the victim’s wife, and she reportedly said Gautier was acting “ballistic” that morning, yelling and kicking in her mother’s door. The suspect’s wife allegedly brought her children outside to wait for the commotion to end, and she could still hear the yelling.

According to WGAL, the suspect’s wife told police her husband had told her he was planning to kill her mother and steal her money.

Gautier was booked into the York County Jail on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault on law enforcement officers, terroristic threats, abuse of corpse, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief.

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