Colorado murder case uncovers chilling details surrounding the death of Marina Placensia on a Milwaukee to Denver Amtrak trip in 2016.
Angelo Mantych, aged 41, was apprehended on Monday in connection with the first-degree murder charge involving the demise of his 28-year-old wife, Marina Placensia, aboard an Amtrak train en route to Colorado. The tragic incident occurred on August 30, 2016, during their journey from Milwaukee to Denver, as confirmed by the Denver District’s Attorney’s office.
Allegations raised against Mantych gained momentum after Placensia was found “unresponsive” on the train before their arrival in Denver on September 1, 2016. Authorities were notified by Mantych, who appeared distraught and unwell on the platform, leading to a doctor declaring her deceased, according to an arrest affidavit viewed by PEOPLE.
The arrest affidavit disclosed disturbing details, including a considerable number of injuries and bruises found on Placensia’s body, spanning her face, mouth, abdomen, and legs, amounting to 35 identified injuries during the autopsy. Although these injuries did not distinctly indicate the cause of death, they suggested an assault or struggle.
Mantych attributed these injuries to the stresses of moving. However, friends and family of Placensia persisted in alleging his abusive behavior, indicating a history of long-term abuse. Witnesses, including neighbors and acquaintances, highlighted a pattern of abuse, asserting that Mantych had a history of name-calling, physical violence, and controlling behavior toward Placensia.
An expert in strangulation and suffocation, Dr. Bill Smock, further supported suspicions, suggesting suffocation as the cause of Placensia’s death.
The affidavit also documented Mantych’s alleged hindrance of Placensia’s attempts to leave the abusive environment, with instances where he reportedly threatened individuals supporting her departure and controlled her communication with family.
Mantych is currently detained at the Downtown Detention Center without bail, awaiting his court appearance scheduled for November 16. It remains unclear if he has entered a plea or acquired legal representation at this time.
This case resurfaces after seven years, shedding light on the harrowing circumstances surrounding Marina Placensia’s untimely demise and the subsequent arrest of Angelo Mantych, unveiling a history of alleged abuse and controlling behavior.