Grafton homicide, Milwaukee auto shop search, New Berlin man charged
TOWN OF GRAFTON, Wis. - Nearly seven months after Laeng Sanavongsay's body was found in a rental car on the side of a Town of Grafton road, a New Berlin man faces charges for the homicide.
Court documents show DNA taken from that rental car matches DNA of Miguel Aponte, 34.
In a criminal complaint, prosecutors outlined the victim’s movement the day before he was found, tracing a path right by where FOX6 saw investigators Friday, Sept. 29 at Trans Auto Shop in Milwaukee.
"They drove up, found a place to kill somebody, and it just happened to be in Ozaukee County," said Sheriff Christy Knowles in March.
Miguel Aponte
On March 4, a deputy found the rental car with smoke residue on the windows.
"A fire started inside the vehicle, extinguished on its own, and that soot caused the window to blacken, so it appeared dark to anyone driving by," said Knowles in March.
Court documents show when the deputy opened the Malibu’s door, he found a body in the back seat; a man with tape over his mouth, binding marks on his wrists and a bullet in his head.
Abandoned car on County Highway C, Grafton
When this happened, sheriff's officials said the victim was from out of state with no ties to Ozaukee County and was likely targeted.
On Sept. 28, Aponte was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, false imprisonment and attempting to disfigure a corpse, all as a party to a crime.
Prosecutors say Aponte's DNA matches what was found in the victim’s rental car.
Using data from the car and the victim’s phone, investigators also tracked Sanavongsay’s movements the day before he was found dead, from O'Hare in Chicago to an area near I-43 and Capitol.
The complaint doesn’t mention Trans Auto Shop by name, but it’s right near that intersection and where investigators were searching cars Friday.
Prosecutors also say the victim’s phone was in New Berlin, consistent with where Aponte and his girlfriend live.
The complaint doesn’t go into more detail on what may have happened but specifically notes it doesn’t include all evidence establishing the defendant’s participation.
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FOX6 asked the sheriff and prosecutors if more people may be charged and haven’t heard back.