A man has been found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend, an army reservist, even though her body has not been located.
Luis Antonio Gomes Akay, 39, was convicted this month for the murder of Anna Laura Costa Porsborg, 22, in 2022. The jury deliberated for under three hours before reaching a verdict. Gomes Akay now faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison with a sentencing hearing scheduled for 27 April.
According to court proceedings, the couple traveled from New Jersey to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve 2022 and checked into a hotel in El Segundo. They explored local sites in the subsequent days, but on 27 December, an argument ensued after a visit to a bowling alley.
Upon returning to their hotel, Porsborg vanished without a trace. Her whereabouts remain unknown.
A statement from the Los Angeles County DA’s Office revealed that Gomes Akay was observed moving a large suitcase from the hotel two days later. Further evidence from phone and GPS records indicated he drove to the Angeles National Forest, spending about an hour there before returning to the hotel and reporting Porsborg missing.
The released information highlighted that Gomes Akay exhibited controlling, jealous, and possessive behavior, as testified by witnesses. Notably, witnesses from Brazil testified that a previous girlfriend of Gomes Akay, Ana Claudia Dos Santos, had gone missing in similar circumstances, with her body also never being found.
During the trial, two of Gomes Akay’s acquaintances testified that he often made the disturbing statement, ‘no body, no crime.’
Porsborg, originally from Brazil, had been in contact with her mother, sharing pictures and messages during her trip to LA. When communication abruptly ceased, her mother alerted authorities, leading to involvement from the FBI.
A detective from the El Segundo Police Department visited the hotel room where Gomes Akay and Porsborg had been staying on December 31, 2022, as per reports from the L.A. Times.
Gomes Akay informed the police that Porsborg had left the hotel after an argument several nights prior, expressing her desire to cut off all contact.
During a preliminary hearing in 2023, the detective noted fresh abrasions on Gomes Akay’s hands and what seemed to be rug burns near his elbows.
Gomes Akay was taken into custody on January 1, 2023, on suspicion of murder.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman stated, “For over three years, Anna’s family and friends have awaited justice. Today, the jury’s guilty verdict for first-degree murder against this sociopath brings closure. ‘No body’ cases are notoriously challenging to prosecute due to their reliance on circumstantial evidence.” Deputy District Attorney Hilary Williams and the investigative team were commended for their meticulous presentation of the case to secure justice for Anna.