Caretaker, 3 relatives charged after man found dead inside suitcase in Kensington
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A woman hired to care for a man later found dead in a suitcase in Kensington is accused of killing him, and she and three of her relatives now face charges in connection with his death, authorities said.
Family members described Vincent Good, 53, as kind and funny, saying he gave nicknames to everyone he knew. Good, who was a double amputee, was found dead last week after his torso was discovered inside a suitcase.
The primary suspect, identified as Liza Ridley, 53, was employed as Good's caregiver, prosecutors said.
"She was employed as such and was being paid," said Assistant Philadelphia District Attorney Cydney Pope of the Homicide and Non-Fatal Shootings Unit.
Ridley, along with her sister, daughter and her daughter's boyfriend, all of whom lived with Good, are charged with crimes related to his death.
Ridley's sister, 55-year-old Bernadette Ridley, is charged with abuse of a corpse.
And Ridley's daughter, 32-year-old Liza Robinson and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Gnaeus Daniels, are also facing charges including obstruction of justice.
According to prosecutors, Ridley admitted to shooting Good in the head.
Police said the remains were found Friday on the 600 block of East Hilton Street in Kensington, when a person searching for scrap metal opened a suitcase and discovered a torso inside.
"It was the smell, first of all," Pope said, describing what drew attention to the suitcase.
Investigators said a Lyft driver later contacted police after recognizing the suitcase from news coverage. The driver reported believing she had transported Ridley and the suitcase to Kensington.
"The bag that she took was placed in the back of that vehicle," Pope said.
When the driver questioned the odor, Pope added, "asked about the smell, the answer to that question was, 'Oh, I'm sorry. It's dirty, wet clothes."
Authorities say the suitcase contained Good's body.
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The investigation led officers to Good's apartment on the 5700 block of Leonard Street in Northeast Philadelphia, where Ridley and the other suspects were taken into custody.
Officials said information from the Lyft driver played a key role in the arrests.
"That Lyft driver had the wisdom to take a photograph of that passenger based on the suspicious indications that the Lyft driver was observing," said District Attorney Larry Krasner.
Investigators believe Good was likely killed more than two weeks before his body was found. The body is being sent to a forensic anthropologist to determine when exactly he died and how he was dismembered.
While charges have been filed, authorities said the case remains active and ongoing. Detectives are exploring a possible financial motive, including potential fraud involving Good's Social Security checks.
