The disappearance of a Queens mother of four ended in tragedy after her body was discovered in a shallow grave in the Edgemere neighborhood. Her family is now grieving the loss of a woman they describe as a devoted mother who would never willingly walk away from her children.
Seraphina Pereira, 35, had been missing for several days before investigators found her body near Beach 58th Street and Almeda Avenue on Saturday night. Authorities later determined that she had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and ruled her death a homicide.
On Monday, police arrested Rogelio Lozano-Garita, 26, who was reportedly in a relationship with Pereira and shared two children with her. He faces several charges, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence.
As detectives continue investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, Pereira’s relatives are struggling to understand how a mother who meant so much to her family could be gone so suddenly.
Family Says She Would Never Leave Her Children
For Pereira’s family, the days she spent missing were filled with worry and unanswered questions.
Brenda Gorczynski, Pereira’s sister-in-law, said the disappearance was especially difficult to understand because of how closely Pereira was connected to her children.
“Something doesn’t add up. First of all, Sera would never leave her kids,” Gorczynski said. “How is she missing, and for so long?”
Gorczynski explained that Pereira had been married to her brother, with whom she shared two sons, before he died in 2019. She remembered Pereira as a fun, kindhearted woman who worked with what she had to provide for her family.
Even when money and other resources were limited, Pereira tried to make the most of what was available, her sister-in-law said.
Those memories have made the family’s loss even harder to process. For her children, the death means losing a mother whose role in their lives cannot simply be filled by someone else.
Body Discovered in a Queens Neighborhood
Pereira’s body was found Saturday night near Beach 58th Street and Almeda Avenue in Edgemere, Queens.
Investigators searched the area with flashlights as they looked for evidence that could help explain what happened. The discovery prompted a homicide investigation, with detectives working to reconstruct the events leading up to her death.
The medical examiner later determined that Pereira had been shot in the head, neck and chest. Her death was officially classified as a homicide.
Authorities have not publicly established every detail of the killing, including the precise sequence of events that led to her body being left in a shallow grave.
On Tuesday, crime scene investigators were also seen at Pereira’s apartment, located only a few blocks from where her body was discovered. Detectives continued gathering evidence as they worked to piece together the case.
The proximity between the apartment and the recovery site is one detail investigators may consider as they examine the available evidence, although it does not by itself establish where the shooting occurred.
Boyfriend Arrested as Investigation Continues
Police arrested Lozano-Garita on Monday in connection with Pereira’s death.
According to the information released by authorities, he was in a relationship with Pereira, and the pair had two children together.
The charges against him extend beyond the alleged killing. Investigators have also accused him of criminal possession of a weapon, concealing a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence.
These allegations indicate that detectives are examining not only the circumstances of Pereira’s death but also what may have happened afterward.
However, the charges remain allegations, and Lozano-Garita is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.
Investigators have not publicly provided a complete account of the events leading to Pereira’s disappearance or explained what may have motivated the alleged killing. Those questions remain central to the ongoing investigation.
Family Fears for the Children Left Behind
Beyond the criminal investigation, Pereira’s death has left her relatives worried about the future of her four children.
Gorczynski expressed concern about the children’s safety following the arrest, questioning whether they could have been at risk as well.
“If he was capable to do this, with so much that’s been going on, who is to say that he would not hurt the kids, too?” she said.
Her comments reflect the family’s fear and uncertainty following the tragedy. Authorities have not established through the information provided whether the children were directly involved in or witnessed any events connected to their mother’s death.
The family now faces the difficult task of helping the children navigate a loss that will affect them for years to come.
Gorczynski said she knows that no one can truly replace Pereira in her children’s lives.
“There is no way any of us can ever replace their mom,” she said.
For relatives who remember Pereira as a loving and resourceful mother, the focus is now on the children she left behind and on finding answers about what happened to her.
Questions Remain About What Led to Her Death
Pereira’s case highlights the importance of taking missing-person reports seriously, particularly when family members raise concerns about a loved one’s unexplained absence.
A missing adult’s disappearance can have many explanations, and an absence alone does not establish that a crime has occurred. But when relatives report unusual circumstances, timely reporting and the careful collection of information can help investigators determine what happened.
In homicide investigations, detectives typically work to establish a timeline, examine forensic evidence, review communications and interview people who may have information about the victim’s final days. Such steps can help authorities test competing accounts and determine whether evidence supports the charges filed.
In Pereira’s case, the discovery of her body, the medical examiner’s findings and Lozano-Garita’s arrest have provided investigators with several starting points. Important questions about the circumstances of her death and the evidence supporting the charges remain to be addressed through the investigation and court proceedings.
For her family, however, the loss is already painfully real.
“Why did he do this to her? Why not just leave?” Gorczynski said.
Her questions capture the heartbreak felt by relatives who are trying to make sense of a death they never expected.
Seraphina Pereira was a mother of four, a sister-in-law and a loved one whose family remembers her for her kindness and determination. As the investigation continues, those closest to her are left mourning her life while hoping the legal process will bring answers and accountability.
