Authorities in New York have confirmed the estranged husband of a teacher believed to have been killed and burned before being dumped in a Staten Island storage facility is the “primary suspect” in an ongoing investigation into her disappearance.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, sources say police believe the charred remains discovered at Extra Space Storage in Arden Heights on Thursday morning belong to 37-year-old Jeanine Cammarata, who vanished over the weekend.
She reportedly told friends that she would be spending the evening of her disappearance with Michael Cammarata, her estranged husband. Reports indicate she had served him with divorce papers just days earlier.
Police have since arrested the 42-year-old on suspicion of assault and harassment in connection with an alleged attack on Jeanine Cammarata, according to the New York Post.
According to reports, Jeanine Cammarata’s last known whereabouts prior to her death was Saturday night, driving to her husband’s home to pick up their two children.
Despite his status as a suspect in her disappearance, he had not been charged with any related criminal counts as of the latest updates available.
“With the discovery of these human remains, the investigation has taken a turn into a murder investigation,” said New York Police Department Assistant Chief William Aubry. “We’re working with the Staten Island [district attorney] to establish probable cause and justification to charge him with murder.”
He went on to describe the victim’s appearance as “charred and unrecognizable,” noting that officials were still waiting for a positive identification of the body.
The Cammaratas’ children were reportedly placed in the custody of the Administration for Children’s Services.
