Joseph Payne-Pabón Convicted of Brutal Carjacking Murder

A brutal carjacking has ended in justice for the family of an 82-year-old woman brutally murdered by a homeless man in Puerto Rico.

Joseph Payne-Pabón, 34, was found guilty by a federal jury of carjacking resulting in death after he violently killed Eulalia Combas Sancho during a blackout caused by earthquakes on January 7, 2020, in the municipality of San Juan.

According to court documents, Payne-Pabón used a cement block to hit the victim in the back of the head, causing a fracture to her skull and trauma to her brain that resulted in her death. The defendant then stole her Hyundai Sonata.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice.

The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz and César Rivera-Díaz, who were praised for their exceptional efforts and dedication to bringing the defendant to justice.

United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow commended the hard work of all agents and officers involved in the case, stating, “This verdict is a direct result of the tireless efforts and outstanding work of agents and officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and federal prosecutors and professional staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2025, at 10:30 am before United States District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón. This conviction is a testament to the community’s intolerance for senseless acts of violence and its commitment to bringing violent offenders to justice.

In a statement, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF Miami Field Division Gordon Mallory said, “This verdict reflects our community’s intolerance for senseless acts of violence, and our commitment to bring violent offenders who endanger innocent persons to justice.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives expressed hope that this conviction can bring some closure to the victim’s family, who have suffered a devastating loss.

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