She Reported Her Roommate Missing — Now She’s Accused of Murder

A Florida woman who once reported her roommate missing has now been charged with her murder—nearly two years and 1,200 miles later. According to the Orlando Police Department, 42-year-old Gisselle Victoria-Gonzalez was arrested in Hartford, Connecticut, and charged with second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and grand theft in the disappearance of her former roommate, 42-year-old Runyleidy Medina-Pacheco. The case, which began as a missing person report just after Christmas in 2022, has evolved into a homicide investigation—despite the fact that Medina-Pacheco’s body has not been found.

Medina-Pacheco Went “Missing” On Christmas

Police say Medina-Pacheco was last seen on Christmas Day, 2022. Two days later, Victoria-Gonzalez called Orlando police to report her missing, claiming she hadn’t seen her since the holiday. But detectives quickly noticed that her story didn’t add up. “Detectives discovered numerous inconsistencies in the version of events as described by Victoria-Gonzalez,” the department said in a statement. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home the two women shared. Inside, they found what police called “significant evidence indicating a violent incident had occurred.” The details of that evidence have not been made public, but Orlando police made clear that it pointed toward foul play.

Medina-Pacheco Was On Vacation When She Disappeared

Medina-Pacheco traveled to Florida from her home in the Dominican Republic for what friends described as an extended vacation. She was staying with Victoria-Gonzalez, an acquaintance she knew from back home. Her friends told local outlets that they grew worried when she stopped returning calls and texts in late December. For months, the case went cold, with few leads and no sign of Medina-Pacheco anywhere in the state.

Police Found A Lead In Connecticut

Police lights are activated on a squad car Saturday, May 28, 2022, in the parking lot of the Hard Rock Rockford Casino in Rockford.

The trail eventually led investigators north. Working with local, state, and federal partners, Orlando police tracked Victoria-Gonzalez to Hartford, more than 1,200 miles from where the disappearance began. There, detectives interviewed her again—this time with evidence in hand. Within hours, they arrested her on suspicion of murder. Body camera footage released by the Orlando Police Department shows Victoria-Gonzalez, dressed in a red dress and handcuffed, being escorted by officers into an elevator. In the video, she speaks through a translator, saying she understands little English.

There’s Significant Evidence – But The Police Won’t Say What It Is

Old latent fingerprint samples lay across Director of Evidence & Forensic Services Aimee Oxley’s desk inside the Jackson PD Headquarters on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.

Authorities have not disclosed what led them to Connecticut or how long Victoria-Gonzalez had been there. They also haven’t said what prompted the alleged violence between the two women. But the department made clear that it now considers Medina-Pacheco’s case a homicide. “Significant evidence was recovered, indicating a violent incident had occurred,” the department reiterated in a public statement. Police say they are still searching for Medina-Pacheco’s remains and are asking anyone with information to contact Orlando’s Homicide Unit or call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.