39-Year-Old Pennsylvania Mother of Four Found Dead in Dumpster as Husband Charged with Murder
(police/GoFundMe)
A tragic case has shaken Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, where Rolando Corte, 42, has been charged with the murder of his wife, Lucrecia Jadan Sumba, a hardworking 39-year-old mother of four. Lucrecia’s remains were discovered in a dumpster on South 3rd Street on January 11, marking the grim conclusion of a missing persons investigation initiated just days earlier.
Lucrecia, an Ecuadorian national affectionately known as “La Tia,” had been missing since January 7. According to a GoFundMe page created by her family, her colleagues at a nail salon in Elizabeth, New Jersey, became alarmed when she failed to arrive at work on January 9. Known for her punctuality, Lucrecia’s absence and lack of communication were unusual.
According to WFMZ, After numerous calls and voicemails went unanswered, her coworkers visited her home to check on her. At the residence, Corte, her husband of over 23 years, reportedly displayed little concern about her whereabouts, further raising suspicions. Her colleagues alerted the police, who initiated a missing person investigation and searched the home the following day.
According to the GoFundMe page, the family was informed that their home had been declared a “crime scene” after investigators discovered suspected blood in the kitchen, hallway, and near the bathroom. Tragically, on January 11, Lucrecia’s body was found in a dumpster, prompting authorities to arrest Corte and charge him with her murder. If convicted, he faces life in prison.
A statement from prosecutors confirmed: “A joint investigation conducted by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force, Elizabeth Police Department, Coopersburg Police Department, and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office led to the identification and arrest of Corte.”
Lucrecia immigrated to the United States with her family in October 2021, working as a house cleaner and babysitter before securing her job at the salon. She was described as a “hardworking, lovely, and caring mother” who dreamed of reuniting her four children in the U.S. and providing them with a better future.
A heartfelt tribute shared on GoFundMe read: “Lucrecia Elizabeth’s dream was to reunite her four children in the United States and provide them with a better future. She worked tirelessly, achieved milestones like earning her driver’s license, and brought joy and kindness to all who knew her.”
This devastating incident leaves the community mourning the loss of a mother whose life was dedicated to creating a brighter future for her children.
