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NEW YORK -- A Queens man was charged Saturday with murdering his live-in girlfriend, the latest twist in a week-long mystery that began when the slain woman's 4-year-old daughter was found walking alone down a Queens street in the middle of the night, police said. Cesar Ascarrunz, 32, was arrested on murder charges two days after he was picked up by investigators, police said. The body of his alleged victim, 26-year-old Monica Lozada, was not recovered, police said. Investigators were led to Ascarrunz by a dozen tips that came in from the public after 4-year-old Valerie Lozada appeared on television...

NEW YORK — A Queens man was charged Saturday with murdering his live-in girlfriend during a fight in their apartment, the latest twist in a weeklong mystery that began when the slain woman's 4-year-old daughter was found wandering barefoot and alone in the middle of the night, authorities said.Cesar Ascarrunz (search), 32, was arrested on murder charges two days after he was picked up by investigators, police said. The defendant allegedly confessed to the crime, and acknowledged putting his girlfriend's body into a trash bag and dumping it on a corner in Queens. Police were still searching Saturday for the...

Valerie, in fresh clothes and clutching a new teddy bear yesterday, was found in Middle Village early Sunday. A 4-year-old girl was found wandering a Queens street in the middle of the night — and city authorities are trying to figure out who she is and why she was all alone. The girl — who has told police that her name is Valerie — was found on 76th Street in Middle Village Sunday at around 1 a.m., according to the city's Administration for Children's Services. She is extremely bright and understands that she is lost. But she was only able...