WGNO

Kenner man convicted again in fatal love triangle

UPDATE:  Viusqui Perez-Espinosa has been resentenced to life in prison for the murder of Ives Alexis Portales-Lara.

Espinosa was convicted on Jan. 31 for a charge of second degree-murder after reportedly killing his rival in a Kenner love triangle, cutting up the body and dumping the parts in St. John swamp.


KENNER, La. (WGNO) — On Tuesday (Jan. 31) 50-year-old Viusqui Perez-Espinosa, was convicted of 2nd degree murder– for a second time– in a case that involved the killing of a rival in a Kenner love triangle.

Espinosa had been convicted of the murder in 2018 but he was granted a new trial because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s “Ramos” decision, which requires a unanimous jury for felony convictions.

This week, after a four hour deliberation, a Jefferson Parish jury voted unanimously for the conviction.

Detectives say that Espinosa killed his friend, Ives Alexis Portales-Lara, in a lover’s triangle involving a woman who was both men’s co-worker and shared their apartment.

Espinosa killed Portales-Lara in the apartment, dismembered the body, and dumped it in a swamp in St. John the Baptist Parish.

He will serve a mandatory life sentence.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.