DENVER, COLORADO: Angelo Valentino Mantych, 41, is facing a first-degree murder charge for the death of his girlfriend, Marina Placensia, 28, who died on an Amtrak train in 2016.
The couple was traveling from Racine, Wisconsin to Denver on August 30, 2016, with their four children when Placensia was found “unresponsive” on the train at Denver Union Station.
Angelo Mantych claimed his girlfriend fell asleep and never woke up
Mantych claimed that she had fallen asleep and never woke up. He claimed to have tried to wake her up about 20 minutes before they arrived, according to Law&Crime.
He was unable to do as according to him she was a "heavy sleeper". He again tried minutes before arrival, but she was unresponsive.
In his claim, he said he suspected something was wrong and called for help.
However, an autopsy revealed that she had 35 injuries on her body, indicating a possible assault or struggle, per KDVR.
She had bruises on the right cheek, bruises around her mouth and face, and bruises on her thighs and calves. Bruises were also found on her upper body, the right side of her abdomen, and her ribs were also fractured.
However, there was no immediate determination of cause or manner of death.
Angelo Mantych was seen throwing up and crying on the platform
The arrest affidavit stated that Mantych was seen throwing up and crying on the platform when officers arrived, as reported by People.
He told them that the family had taken a break in Chicago, where they had walked around and eaten.
He said that Placensia had injured herself during their move from Racine, Wisconsin, where they lived, as an explanation for the injuries on her.
In one version of events, he said a door struck her in the shoulder while they were moving furniture, documents stated.
In another interview, he allegedly said she was carrying a box when a door hit her in the face. He also claimed that her 2-year-old daughter scratched her in the face.
Family and friends of couple told authorities to look into Angelo Mantych as he was abusive
However, friends and neighbors of the couple told authorities that Mantych had a history of abusing Placensia, both verbally and physically.
Placensia’s family had already been at Denver Union Station to welcome her.
Her brother told investigators to look into Mantych “because he is abusive.”
Neighbors said that he would call her names, punch her, and force her to move furniture by herself while he watched. besides hitting her every day.
They also said that he would prevent her from leaving him by threatening her or monitoring her phone calls.
Even on the day, they left Mantych “beat” her. Mantych had also beaten her two months before the move, the neighbor said.
A breakthrough in the case
In September 2023, Dr Bill Smock, an expert in strangulation and suffocation, issued a report saying that he believed Placensia died of suffocation, according to the affidavit.
Mantych was arrested on Monday, October 31, and is currently being held at the Downtown Detention Center without bond, according to jail records.
He is scheduled for a court appearance on November 16. It is not clear if he has entered a plea or hired an attorney.
