Just hours after the birth of his baby daughter, a father of two was discovered in a storage unit with his daughters and the mutilated body of his wife. Justin Rey, 35, reportedly skinned Jessica Monteiro following her death after childbirth and took a disturbing photo with her and their children.
Jessica’s remains were found in various containers, with Rey initially claiming she died by suicide, then changing his story to childbirth. The exact cause of her death could not be determined by the coroner. Rey admitted to dismembering Jessica’s body in a motel bathtub out of fear that his daughters would be taken away.
Rey spent eight hours dissecting his partner’s body before storing it in a cooler, as shared by Jessica’s sister. Testifying in court, Rey justified his actions as necessary to protect his family. He was found with his newborn baby and toddler following reports of living in the storage locker.
During the investigation, Rey confessed to posing his children with their deceased mother and admitted to the gruesome act of skinning her. He also acknowledged placing body parts in containers that couldn’t be flushed down the toilet. Rey’s defense focused on images found on his phone, avoiding questions about his children and wife.
In a letter, Rey denied being a murderer but admitted to dismembering the body based on religious beliefs. He faced charges related to child endangerment and misconduct due to photos on his phone. Rey’s disruptive behavior led to his removal from the court hearing, where he was sentenced to nine years in prison and required to register as a sex offender.
