Police charge Dover man in death of 67-year-old woman, find gruesome scene inside of home
A 67-year-old woman was found dead Tuesday from traumatic injuries in a home in Dover, and her son-in-law has been charged with homicide, according to the York County Coroner's Office and Northern York County Regional Police.
The victim is Lourdes Ramos Baez of the first block of South Main Street in Dover, according to the York County Coroner's Office. An autopsy was done on Wednesday, and the results will be released after the family has been notified.
Police described a gruesome scene inside the home. Ramos Baez's body was found lying face down in her bedroom underneath a pile of clothing and other items. Duct tape covered her eyes and face, and coat hangers were wrapped around her neck. Her arms were bound behind her back, and she was stabbed in the back with a pair of scissors, the affidavit states. A white substance, which appeared to be salt, was poured over her body.
Police arrested William Emilio Torres Gautier, 42, of the first block of South Main Street, and charged him with criminal homicide, aggravated assault on law enforcement officers, terroristic threats, abuse of corpse, resisting arrest and criminal mischief.
He was committed to York County Prison.
Officers responded to the residence on Tuesday afternoon after a woman told police that a neighbor asked her to call them.
Officers met with Torres Gautier, his wife and two small children in the back of the residence, according to a news release and affidavit of probable cause. Police allege Torres Gautier became verbally aggressive, demanding that they leave the property.
The wife, who was standing behind Torres Gautier, mouthed the words "help me," the affidavit states.
Torres Gautier pushed a section of wooden gate at police when they tried to enter. One of the officers was hit, the release states.
Torres Gautier was taken into custody after fighting with officers and pushing them away, the affidavit states. Police allege he spit on a corporal, kicked and broke an in-car camera system as well as a rear window on the patrol car.
Officers entered the home after the wife asked police to check on her mother inside the home. That's when they found Ramos Baez deceased in her bedroom.
Her daughter told police that she was awaken by Torres Gautier early that morning in their third-floor bedroom and he was acting "ballistic," the affidavit states. He ran down to the second floor and kicked in the door to her mother's bedroom.
She heard her mother and Torres Gautier screaming, the affidavit states. She grabbed her children and took them downstairs. They eventually went outside, and she could still hear her mother screaming.
They remained outside for hours. Torres Gautier told her she was not allowed to come inside or upstairs, the affidavit states. He told her that he was "inside fixing things" and "using Clorox."
The victim's daughter told police that Torres Gautier told her the night before that "he was going to kill" Ramos Baez and "take all of her money," the affidavit says.
The victim was pronounced dead at 2:19 p.m. Tuesday at the scene, according to the York County Coroner's Office.
"The public is not in any danger related to this incident," the news release states.
Anyone with information about the incident can call the police department tipline at (717) 467-TELL(8355) or send an email to tips@nycrpd.org. The case number is 2023-024254.
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This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Homicide investigation: Woman found dead from traumatic injuries: coroner
