An illegal immigrant day laborer has pleaded guilty to bludgeoning a socialite to death at her family's suburban New York estate.
Esdras Marroquin Gomez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday and admitted to killing 83-year-old Lois Colley, the wife of millionaire McDonald's franchisee Eugene Colley, at her 300-acre North Salem estate in November 2015.
Gomez admitted to Assistant District Attorney Julia Cornachio in court that he killed Colley with a fire extinguisher during a confrontation.
Cornachio also said authorities believe 'he probably wanted money'.
Day laborer, Esdras Marroquin Gomez (center, in court on Monday), who bludgeoned socialite, Lois Colley, 83, to death at her family's New York mansion has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder
On November 9, 2015, Colley’s (pictured) body was discovered in the laundry room of her home by another caretaker who worked on the property. She died from blunt force trauma
Colley's body was found inside her 300-acre North Salem estate (pictured) in November 2015
Westchester District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr, said during a press conference on Monday: 'Sending Marroquin Gomez to prison will not bring Lois Colley back but we hope it will bring some closure to her family knowing that justice has been done.'
During a press conference on Monday, Colley's husband of 65 years, Eugene, spoke.
'We the family had a tough time, but this will help,' he said through tears.
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ShareHe thanked detectives and prosecutors for the work they did on his wife's case.
According to authorities, Gomez claimed he had been injured at the family's property, Windswept Farm, and had been pursuing a worker's compensation claim before Colley's death, according to the Journal News.
On November 9, 2015, Colley’s body was discovered in the laundry room of her home by another caretaker who worked on the property. She died from blunt force trauma.
She was the wife of millionaire McDonald's franchisee Eugene Colley (both pictured)
During a press conference, Colley's husband of 65 years, Eugene (pictured), also spoke. 'We the family had a tough time, but this will help,' he said through tears. He thanked detectives and prosecutors for the work they did on his wife's case
At the time, police discovered a pin from a fire extinguisher next to Colley’s body.
There was no sign of forced entry, according to police. No valuables were taken. All that was missing was the extinguisher.
A few days later, the extinguisher was recovered in a pond on the property. It was wrapped in a plastic bag and had Colley’s DNA on it.
The Westchester County judge said Gomez will get at least 20 years to life in prison when he's sentenced on June 13
During the investigation, authorities learned that Gomez, an illegal immigrant, had fled to his native Guatemala and then Mexico by the time they realized he was a suspect.
The 34-year-old had worked part-time as a day laborer on Colley's horse farm around the time she was murdered.
Authorities had been planning to get him extradited back to the US when he was deported.
Gomez was arrested in November 2017 after authorities tracked him down in Miami, Florida.
Colley is the mother of Bruce Colley, the wealthy playboy whose 2003 affair with Kerry Kennedy resulted in the end of her marriage to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Eugene gained his wealth through more than 100 McDonald's franchises.
The Westchester County judge said Gomez will get at least 20 years to life in prison when he's sentenced on June 13.
Colley is the mother of Bruce Colley (right), the wealthy playboy whose 2003 affair with Kerry Kennedy resulted in the end of her marriage to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
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