Police in Pennsylvania have made progress with investigations into the murder of 18-year-old Sian Cartegena who was killed on Oct. 2, in Allentown.
They’ve arrested Ethan Nicholas Bastien, 21, who called 911 on the day of the incident and said Cartagena shot herself.
Young Cartagena was found unconscious on a mattress and was taken to the hospital where she died two days later, police say.
Bastien was taken into custody on Oct. 2 and was initially charged with attempted murder, but his charges were subsequently upgraded, police say.
The Lehigh County Coroner ruled Monday that Cartagena had died as the result of a homicide. Bastien was charged with first-degree criminal homicide and is being held without bail at Lehigh County Jail, reports People.
According to court records, Bastien is still awaiting a preliminary hearing and has been assigned a public defender.
Cartagena had just turned 18 in August, her mother, Dolores Cartegena, said on a GoFundMe page and had aspired to be a model, according to another report on the incident. The outlet reported she wrote poetry and music lyrics, and wanted to study medicine in college. She is survived by a brother and three sisters.
“I want to give her the best service and arrangements, because my baby didn’t deserve this cruel and inhumane act to have taken her life away,” Dolores Cartagena wrote in the GoFundMe description.
So far, the GoFundMe has raised over $6,000.
Prior to the Cartagena was facing a felony count of attempted homicide, and two felony aggravated assault charges, including one involving a deadly weapon. Bastien on Oct. 2 was arraigned on the charges before District Judge Amy Zanelli.
Court records show bail was denied in the case. Bastien remains at the Lehigh County jail. The relationship between the pair is unclear as the case continues to be investigated by authorities.
