DNA, Crime Stoppers tip lead to murder charge in Fort Myers death of Julia Curvo

Investigators charged Rolbert Joachin with the murder of Julia Curvo after investigators said DNA evidence and a Crime Stoppers tip connected him to her death, which was caused by strangulation.

Curvo’s grandmother reported her missing on Jan. 21, saying she had been living on the streets in downtown Fort Myers. That same day, an officer spoke to Joachin about sleeping next to trees on Hough Street.

Four days later, a resident on Hough Street called police to report a foul smell. Officers initially found nothing but returned on Jan. 29 after the odor was reported again. Investigators then discovered Curvo’s body under brush, wrapped in bedding and partially clothed. A bandana was found around her neck, and clothing was tied around her waist. An autopsy later revealed her cause of death was strangulation.

Police interviewed Joachin on Feb. 5, during which he denied killing Curvo. On Feb. 27, a woman left a tip with Crime Stoppers, saying she knew where Curvo’s phone might be located. Investigators were unable to reach the tipster until March, when she revealed that Joachin had confessed to the killing in a nearby park.

On March 26, police interviewed Joachin again, took his phone, and asked Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold him. However, due to his temporary protected status as a Haitian, he was released two hours later.

One week later, Joachin was arrested and accused of murdering a mother working at a Fort Myers gas station on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. He reportedly struck her repeatedly in the head with a mallet.

The investigation into Curvo’s case advanced further on April 8, when her phone was found in a pond off Palm Beach Boulevard, along with Joachin’s phone.

Julia’s father, Mark Curvo, expressed gratitude for the progress in the case after the state attorney charged Joachin with her murder.

"Because if we're honest about the situation, she could have very easily just been forgotten about. This case could have gone cold very easily, but it was only due to all of their, you know, dedication to their job and dedication to, you know, finding the truth, getting justice for Julia," Mark Curvo said.

The motive for the killing remains unclear. The Crime Stoppers tipster told police that Joachin claimed Curvo had "tried him."

Joachin is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.