Florida Man on Probation Charged With Murder After Stepfather Found Dismembered in Suitcases

Jose Proano, 44, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his 71-year-old stepfather, Jorge Vazquez-Escutia, whose remains were discovered in three suitcases near Orlando on August 4. Proano was on probation at the time of the alleged crime, having been released under a plea agreement in a 2022 armed burglary case that reduced his potential sentence from up to 20 years.

The discovery came roughly 23 hours after Vazquez-Escutia’s family reported him missing on August 3. Family members told the Orange County Sheriff’s Office they had located his phone, wallet, and keys at his residence, along with what appeared to be blood on an exterior fence. His vehicles remained in the driveway with unlocked doors, a departure from normal behavior that alarmed relatives who said they had not seen him in three days.

Security footage from a neighbor’s camera provided crucial evidence of the crime. Video recorded on August 2 showed a man in a black shirt scaling the back wall of Vazquez-Escutia’s home and later carrying heavy suitcases down the driveway at approximately 4:28 p.m. The footage documented the man struggling under the weight of the luggage, with his arm muscles visibly flexed as he pulled them.

Investigators connected Proano to the scene through cell phone records that placed his device in the area during the timeframe captured on video. Proano had traveled from Northport, approximately 150 miles away, in the days preceding the incident. When initially questioned, Proano denied being the person depicted in the security footage, though he later acknowledged his cell phone had been present at the location.

Deputies searching the area near Vazquez-Escutia’s residence discovered the suitcases behind a brick wall and along a nearby roadway. The first suitcase, marked by a distinctive odor, contained the victim’s head. Two additional pieces of luggage found approximately 400 feet away bore luggage tags with Proano’s mother’s name and held the victim’s remaining body parts wrapped in tarps.

Investigators noted that Proano exhibited defensive injuries consistent with a violent altercation, including scratches on his hands, arms, and a substantial scratch along the right side of his face. During his interview, Proano described a negative relationship with his stepfather, claiming Vazquez-Escutia had restricted his access to his mother. Proano also disclosed a diagnosis of schizophrenia and reported making multiple 911 calls expressing concerns about his family’s safety, which deputies investigated and found to be unfounded.

Proano’s alleged actions violate the conditions of his 2022 probation, which was set to expire in 2027, prompting authorities to reopen that case. He is currently held without bond in Orange County. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist Vazquez-Escutia’s family with funeral expenses, describing him as a generous and compassionate individual known for helping neighbors and loved ones.