A man from New Jersey has pleaded guilty to murdering his pregnant girlfriend with a baseball bat and then attempting to make her death look like an accident, according to prosecutors.
Boris Lainez-Rosales, 28, of Pleasantville, admitted in court that he killed his live-in girlfriend, 25-year-old Leslianette Quintana-Betancourt, inside their home on December 2, 2024.
Prosecutors Say Victim Was Beaten With Baseball Bat
According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Lainez-Rosales pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
Prosecutors said he admitted to assaulting Quintana-Betancourt with a baseball bat while she was pregnant, causing her death. Her unborn child also did not survive.
Investigators said the victim suffered multiple blunt-force injuries to her face, arms, and abdomen, along with a ruptured placenta.
Witness Reportedly Heard Couple Arguing
Court documents state that another person inside the home heard the couple arguing for around two hours on the night of the killing.
According to investigators, the witness went downstairs to check on the situation but was sent back upstairs by Lainez-Rosales, who allegedly claimed everything was fine.
A short time later, Lainez-Rosales reportedly used the witness’s phone to call 911.
Police Say Scene Was Staged
When police and emergency crews arrived, they found Quintana-Betancourt’s body at the bottom of a staircase inside the home.
Lainez-Rosales allegedly told officers that she had fallen down the stairs. However, investigators quickly became suspicious because there were reportedly no bloodstains around the stairwell.
Police also noted that the victim’s body smelled strongly of bleach.
According to the affidavit, investigators later discovered bloodstains throughout the basement living area and signs that someone had attempted to clean biological evidence using bleach.
Baseball Bat and Other Evidence Recovered
Investigators reportedly found a bloodstained baseball bat in the backyard of the home. Police also recovered a trash bag from Lainez-Rosales’ vehicle that allegedly had possible hair attached to it.
Authorities said Lainez-Rosales had cuts on his hands while speaking with police after the incident.
He was arrested shortly afterward and later indicted for murder in February 2025.
Victim Remembered by Friends
Friends and loved ones remembered Quintana-Betancourt as a caring and joyful person who was excited about becoming a mother.
One friend wrote online that she had “a laugh and smile that would brighten up a room.”
Sentencing Scheduled for July
Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
Lainez-Rosales is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31.
