2 charged with murder in the death of her teenage cousin, who was found wrapped in a blanket on a Connecticut highway

Two people have been charged in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old in Connecticut whose body was found wrapped in a blanket on a highway. According to the family, the suspects are the victim's cousins.

The body of Edgar Josué Chiche Martínez was found Saturday morning on Pope Park Highway in Hartford. He is just days away from his 19th birthday, family members told NBC Connecticut.

The body was transported to the state Chief Medical Examiner's Office and it was determined that the victim had suffered “apparent gunshot wounds,” Hartford police said in a news release.

The investigation revealed that Martínez had been shot the day before in an apartment on Magnolia Street and his body had lain on the highway for about a day before it was discovered.

Two suspects, Sender Soto-Veliz, 21, and a 17-year-old, were arrested on Sunday, police said. The teen was charged with murder and tampering with evidence, while Soto-Veliz was charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

Martínez's family said the victim's parents lived in Guatemala and he lived in the Magnolia Street apartment with his cousins, who are now charged in connection with his killing.

Hartford police also confirmed that the suspects are cousins ​​of the victim. It is not immediately clear whether the two suspects have retained lawyers.

“What we want is for earthly justice to be done because God’s justice is on the other side,” Verónica Imelda Martínez Mayen, the victim’s aunt, told NBC Connecticut.

She said Martínez didn't show up for work on Thursday and Friday and she knew something was wrong.

Although police did not give a possible motive, Martínez Mayen said the family believes the killing was about money.

She described Martínez as a friendly and good boy who stayed away from parties and had just graduated from Hartford High School in the spring.

“He was the person who always looked after me even though he wasn’t feeling well. I will remember him as the most beautiful person I have ever met,” said Nimsa Martínez, the victim’s sister.