A Florida man charged with murder has been accused of stalking, killing and dismembering his 71-year-old stepfather, according to court records and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
What led authorities to suspect 44-year-old Jose Proano was a grisly discovery in three suitcases found just before midnight on Aug. 4 along a roadway in Orlando near the home of his mother and stepfather.
Florida man charged with murder after family reports stepfather missing
About 23 hours earlier, relatives of Jorge Vazquez-Escutia had called for help, reporting that they had found his phone, wallet and keys at his home and what appeared to be blood on an outside fence, according to an affidavit filed in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. His cars were in the driveway with the doors unlocked, which a family member said was unusual. They told deputies they had not seen him in three days. Friends of his stepson also contacted the family claiming Proano had told them he killed his stepfather, court filings show.
The sheriff’s office asked the public on social media to help locate Vazquez-Escutia, citing concerns for his well-being because he suffered from memory loss. Soon after, a neighbor’s security camera provided key evidence.
On the morning of Aug. 2, the day after the missing man was last seen, video showed a man in a black shirt jumping over the back wall of Vazquez-Escutia’s home. Later, the same person appeared at the rear of the property, bringing out suitcases and placing what looked like a human arm into one, according to court records. At about 4:28 p.m., the video shows the man in black walking down the driveway carrying three pieces of luggage. Detectives noted the bags appeared heavy.
Investigators contacted Proano and asked to meet. Phone records indicated his device was in the area around the time the man in black was captured on video. Detectives then began assembling a timeline.
Timeline and interviews detail tensions and travel
Days earlier, Proano had traveled from North Port, roughly 150 miles away, to the Orlando area, records show. His ex-wife told authorities he had been acting erratically and making threats toward her, according to the affidavit.
Proano agreed to speak with investigators. He described a negative relationship with his stepfather and said he believed Vazquez-Escutia had restricted his access to his mother. He also told investigators he had schizophrenia, with voices that caused him to worry about his family. Records show he repeatedly called 911 to request welfare checks on his mother. Deputies reported that each time they found no issues at the home and relayed that information back to him.
Suitcases yield remains and lead to arrest
Roughly 23 hours after Vazquez-Escutia was reported missing, deputies searching around his home found a suitcase with a strong odor behind a nearby brick wall. A crime scene investigator opened it and found a human head identified as Vazquez-Escutia’s, according to court documents. Two additional suitcases were discovered about 400 feet away along a roadway, each with luggage tags bearing the name of Proano’s mother. Inside, investigators found tarps and additional remains.
Proano initially insisted the person on the video was not him, investigators noted, but later acknowledged the phone data placing his device at the scene. Detectives also documented scratches on his hands and arms, along with a large scratch on the right side of his cheek, which they described as consistent with defensive-type injuries.
Prior case and current custody status
Court records show Proano was on probation until 2027 following a 2022 case involving an armed burglary, in which a plea agreement significantly reduced potential prison time that could have reached 20 years. The new charges constitute a violation of his probation and have reopened that matter.
Proano is being held without bond in Orange County. His public defender from the local court system declined to comment, stating the client had not authorized discussion of the case. A fundraising page has been created to assist Vazquez-Escutia’s family with funeral costs, describing him as a kind and generous neighbor and relative.
In another case involving a family killing, Nick Reiner was indicted in his parents’ Brentwood stabbing deaths, highlighting broader concerns about violent crime within families.