Carjacking Killer Joseph Payne-Pabón Convicted

A federal jury has delivered a guilty verdict against Joseph Payne-Pabón, a 34-year-old homeless man, for carjacking resulting in the death of an 82-year-old woman in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

On January 7, 2020, during a blackout caused by a series of earthquakes, Payne-Pabón entered the home of Eulalia Combas Sancho and brutally killed her, then stole her Hyundai Sonata. The evidence presented in court revealed that Payne-Pabón used a cement block to strike the victim in the back of the head, resulting in a fractured skull and traumatic brain injuries that led to her death.

Payne-Pabón’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2025, at 10:30 am before United States District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón.

United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow praised the efforts of agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, crediting their work for securing the conviction.

Gordon Mallory, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF Miami Field Division, commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in holding Payne-Pabón accountable for his violent actions. “This verdict reflects our community’s intolerance for senseless acts of violence and our commitment to bringing violent offenders to justice,” Mallory stated.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation, assisted by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz and César Rivera-Díaz prosecuted the case.

The conviction of Joseph Payne-Pabón serves as a reminder that those who commit heinous crimes will be held accountable for their actions. The victim’s family may finally find some measure of closure, knowing that justice has been served.

The community is left to grapple with the senseless violence that led to Eulalia Combas Sancho’s tragic death. As Grimy Times continues to report on the most pressing issues of our time, we remain committed to shedding light on the darkest corners of human nature.