BOCA RATON, FLA. (WSVN) - A Hialeah delivery man appeared in court after he allegedly murdered a customer in Boca Raton.
Jorge Dupre Lachazo, 21, is accused of murdering a customer while delivering a washer and dryer, Monday morning.
Lachazo and his partner, who were subcontracted through Best Buy, arrived at the home off Glades Road around 9:15 a.m. to make their delivery.
Update: Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to her injuries and has passed away. @bocapolice offer our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones. We will work with the State Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office as we continue to investigate. https://t.co/9crGyYlU6O
— Boca Raton Police (@BocaPolice) August 20, 2019
“They removed the old washer and dryer, installed the new washer and dryer, and the driver, who was the head of the team, was receiving a number of phone calls from the home office,” said Boca Raton Police spokesperson Mark Economou, “so he said he was gonna go outside and return the phone calls while his partner showed the woman how to use the new washer and dryer.”
Lachazo stayed behind with the victim, who was later identified as 75-year-old Evelyn Udell.
According to police, the driver heard screams coming from the home and rushed back in.
“And [he] saw the woman on the ground against the washer and dryer unconscious and bleeding,” said Economou.
The driver then went outside and called 911.
“Fire rescue had arrived on the scene,” said Economou. “When they arrived on scene and went inside, they found the woman not only with a head injury and unconscious, but on fire.”
According to police, Lachazo told them he doused Udell with acetone and set the blaze. It remains unclear what sparked the blaze.
Lachazo then jumped in the van and left his partner behind, but police said they caught up with him minutes later.
Police said Lachazo had ingested cocaine and smoked marijuana through a vape earlier in the day, but police said he did not give a motive.
“He lit her on fire and in broad daylight — in the morning — when people are going to work,” said Jeff Pattek, Udell’s neighbor.
Best Buy released the following statement:
“We are profoundly sorry and offer our deepest sympathies to our customer and her family. Beyond working with law enforcement in any way we can, we have suspended our relationship with the small, local company that was subcontracted to deliver to the customer’s home.”
The store also closed its Boca Raton location for the day.
Udell, a wife and mother and former Florida Atlantic University librarian, succumbed to her injuries, Tuesday afternoon. Her family gathered at the home hours later.
“Was it a fight? Was it a robbery? Was it something else that happened? We don’t know, and that’s the answer we need to find out,” said Economou.
“It’s devastating. It’s horrible. I feel bad,” said Pattek.
The family said they would like to thank the Boca Raton Police Department as well as Del Rey Medical Center for caring for Udell.
Lachazo remains in the Palm Beach County Jail and has been charged with first-degree murder among other charges.
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