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A decomposed body found in a Philadelphia basement is a New York mother of five who went missing nearly two weeks ago, authorities confirmed today.

Vianela Tavera, 50, left her home in the Bronx on July 28 for a trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was going to visit a man police believe to have been her boyfriend, 38-year-old Luis Negron-Martinez, according to New York ABC station WABC.

Tavera was soon reported missing by her family, and a multi-state search got underway and lasted for ten days. Philadelphia’s medical examiner determined that Tavera’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, according to a statement from the Philadelphia Police Department.

PHOTO: Luis E. Negron-Martinez is pictured in this undated photo posted on Facebook by Fairfax County Police Department.Fairfax County Police Department
Luis E. Negron-Martinez is pictured in this undated photo posted on Facebook by Fairfax County Police Department.

Police have said that Tavera’s body was found in the basement of a Philadelphia home that investigators have linked to Negron-Martinez, though to date he has not been charged in relation to her death.

Negron-Martinez was arrested in Virginia on Aug. 3, six days after Tavera went missing — when Fairfax County police answered a call about a man in an SUV who was possibly in need of medical attention.

The man was Negron-Martinez, and the SUV belonged to Tavera.

PHOTO: Vianela Tavera is pictured in this undated photo posted on Facebook by Fairfax County Police Department.Fairfax County Police Department
Vianela Tavera is pictured in this undated photo posted on Facebook by Fairfax County Police Department.

Police in Virginia also found a 9mm handgun inside the vehicle.

Negron-Martinez is being held in Virginia on charges of grand larceny and possession of a concealed weapon. It was not immediately clear whether Negron-Martinez has retained or been assigned a defense attorney.

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