Elvia Cabrera Rivera was found guilty Thursday of the first-degree murder of 16-year-old Gabriela Nicole Pratts, a case that has drawn widespread public attention both in Puerto Rico and in other parts of the United States.
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According to the evidence and testimony presented during the trial, Cabrera Rivera allegedly handed the murder weapon to her daughter, Anthonieska Avilés Cabrera, who is accused of stabbing Gabriela Nicole Pratts 11 times.
After the verdict, both the defense and Cabrera Rivera’s relatives insisted she is innocent. Prosecutors, for their part, said the evidence presented in court was sufficient to prove her guilt of first-degree murder.
However, the legal process is not over. Attention is now focused on Anthonieska Avilés Cabrera, now 18, who also faces first-degree murder charges in connection with Pratts’ death.
Jury selection for her trial began June 30, although experts anticipate the process could stretch on for several weeks due to the case’s high profile and the challenge of finding an impartial jury.
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Telemundo PR journalist Walter Soto León, who has closely followed the court proceedings, explained that during Cabrera Rivera’s trial, jurors were sequestered for several days in a hotel with no access to television, radio, or cellphones— a measure put in place to avoid outside influence.
Soto León also said one of the aspects that continues to raise questions is the origin of the conflict that led to the crime. According to him, relatives of the girls were in a relationship that was a source of contention for the family and sparked multiple confrontations. In León’s analysis, Gabriela Nicole Pratts was not directly connected to whatever initial conflict led to the violence, but ended up becoming the victim of a series of clashes that unfolded at the same time.
Although the murder weapon has not been recovered, key testimony presented during the court process stated that Cabrera Rivera allegedly handed a sharp object to her daughter and later put it in her purse before leaving the scene.
Cabrera Rivera’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 20. If sentenced in line with the jury’s verdict, she could face up to 99 years in prison for first-degree murder.
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