For Immediate Release
Contact: Lindsay Corcoran 508-368-7252 or 774-670-8811
WORCESTER – Two men were indicted on murder charges in the shooting deaths of a mother and daughter in Worcester in March, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.
Dejan Belnavis, 27, of Worcester, and Karel Mangual, 28,of Worcester, were indicted by a Worcester County Grand Jury last week for two counts each of murder in the deaths of 27-year-old Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella Nunez.
On March 5, 2024, Worcester Police responded to Englewood Avenue and found the mother and daughter shot inside of their parked car. They were both transported to the hospital where they were later pronounced deceased.
Mangual was arrested on March 7 and initially charged in Worcester Central District Court with armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license. On March 12, Mangual’s charges were upgraded to murder. He has been held in custody since his arrest.
Belnavis was taken into custody in San Diego, California after a motor vehicle stop on March 11. He returned to Massachusetts on March 29 and appeared for arraignment in Worcester Central District Court on two murder charges. He has been held without bail since he was apprehended.
The indictment moves the cases against Belnavis and Mangual to Worcester Superior Court where they are expected to be arraigned on Wednesday, Sept. 11.