Berkley Calvin Curtis Jr. was arrested on Monday and charged with econd degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Rebeca Pena

Pena’s body was discovered in a suitcase by boaters in Miami’s Biscayne River Canal on April 16, 2001

There was 25lb weight lifting plates inside the suitcase that were intended to keep it weighted down

But the case went cold, even after his other ex testified in 2014 that he left the house for several hours on the night Pena was killed

Pena had been working as a movie extra during the filming of ‘Ali’ when she was last seen leaving the set at around 2.15am on April 10 in 2001

Her car was later found near her apartment in Miramar

Police have not said what exactly led to the recent arrest of Curtis, but the charges come nearly two decades after police first suspected Curtis for his ex-girlfriend’s death 

After nearly 20 Years, the ex-Boyfriend is charged with the death of a woman whose body was found floating inside a suitcase on the Biscayne River Canal, in Florida.
Berkley Calvin Curtis Jr., 46, was arrested on Monday and charged with second degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Rebeca Pena. 
The charges come nearly two decades after police first suspected him for her death. 
Pena’s body was discovered by boaters in the Biscayne River Canal on April 16, 2001. There was 25lb weight lifting plates inside the suitcase that were intended to keep it weighted down, CBS Miami reports.
Police had found a magazine addressed to the Pena family with a Silver Spring, Maryland, address, which was where Curtis lived at the time. Curtis is also the father of Pena’s child, authorities shared. 
The weights were later found to match ones Curtis had at his home in Miramar. 
In 2014 a woman who also has a child by Curtis told police that he had been missing for several hours on the night Pena was killed, destroying his alibi. Still the murder remained a cold case.

Pena’s body was discovered by boaters in the Biscayne River Canal on April 16, 2001. There was 25lb weight lifting plates inside the suitcase that were intended to keep it weighted down.
The clues however, is that police had found a magazine addressed to the Pena family with a Silver Spring, Maryland, address, which was where Curtis lived at the time. Curtis is also the father of Pena’s child.
However, police have not said what exactly led to the recent arrest of Curtis.

Pena had been working as a movie extra during the filming of ‘Ali’ when she was last seen leaving the set in her white Honda Civic at around 2.15am on April 10 in 2001. Her car was later found near her apartment in Miramar.
Detectives said that Curtis stalked his ex-girlfriend, who had just gotten a restraining order against him. 
The mother’s sister also said that Curtis had been physically abusive to Pena, describing a 1998 incident where he choked her and needed police intervention to stop.  

Pena had been working as a movie extra during the filming of ‘Ali’ when she was last seen leaving the set in her white Honda Civic at around 2.15am on April 10 in 2001. Her car was later found near her apartment in Miramar.
Detectives said that Curtis stalked his ex-girlfriend, who had just gotten a restraining order against him. 
The mother’s sister also said that Curtis had been physically abusive to Pena, describing a 1998 incident where he choked her and needed police intervention to stop.  

Pena’s father told authorities that his daughter was afraid of Curtis and was concerned that he would harm her.
The victim’s sister told police that Curtis had been physically abusive to her sister in the past, citing an incident in November of 1998, where Curtis” became violent, choking her and requiring police intervention.
Detectives said that back in 2001, there was not enough evidence to charge Curtis in connection with Pena’s death.
“I am exceptionally proud of our current, former and retired homicide investigators who worked relentlessly on solving this nearly 20-year-old case, “said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez.
“Bringing closure to the family of Rebeca Pena nearly 20 years later is just one example that we never forget the victims that no longer have a voice. The Miami-Dade Police Department is humbled and honored to be a part of this process.”
‘With this news of the arrest of this person, the pain will be less because justice has been served,’ Pena’s father said about the arrest. ‘But the emptiness is still there and won’t go away.’
Every day we don’t see her here, we cry a little. But we’re satisfied with the life we gave her. I tell everyone, enjoy life with your children, and forgive them, because you don’t know what may happen one day.’