A husband has been charged with the murder of his wife, a mother of four, after her body was discovered in a dumpster. Rolando Corte, 42, was arrested after authorities found the remains of 39-year-old Lucrecia Jadan Sumba in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania.
Lucrecia, originally from Ecuador, worked at a nail salon in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She was last seen by her colleagues on January 7. Known as “La Tia,” she was a reliable employee who never missed work. When she didn’t show up on January 9, her coworkers became concerned. They called her several times and left messages but received no response. Her coworkers then went to her home and spoke with her husband, Corte. He seemed uninterested in her whereabouts, according to the GoFundMe page set up by her family. This prompted her colleagues to contact the police and report her missing.
The following day, police began searching for Lucrecia. They later told her family that their home had become a “crime scene” after investigators found signs of blood in the kitchen, hallway, and outside the bathroom. As the investigation continued, authorities discovered her body in a dumpster on S. 3rd Street in Coopersburg on January 11.
Prosecutors have since charged Corte with murder, and he now faces a potential life sentence in prison. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Elizabeth Police Department.
Lucrecia had moved to the United States in October 2021 with her family, initially working as a house cleaner and babysitter before joining the nail salon. She was described by her family and colleagues as a hardworking, caring mother who had big dreams for her children. She aspired to further her career, including obtaining a certificate in acrylic nails and completing her GED. She was also proud of getting her driver’s license.
Lucrecia’s family remembers her for her kindness, enthusiasm, and positive impact on those around her. She wanted to give her four children a better future and had plans to reunite with them in the United States. Tragically, her life was cut short, leaving her children, as young as five, in confusion and grief.
