LI Man Gets 25 Years Behind Bars For Strangling Death: Prosecutors

MINEOLA, NY — An Elmont man was sentenced on Thursday to 25 years in prison for strangling a woman to death in 2023, prosecutors said.

Andrew Avila, 26, pleaded guilty in April to first-degree manslaughter.

"Andrew Avila brutally strangled Rebecca Carlson to death in his car after a Valentine’s Day tryst that didn’t end the way he wanted," said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. "Without a care for the life he extinguished, the defendant dumped Rebecca’s body behind a local storefront with the trash and drove off."

According to the indictment and investigation, in the early morning hours of February 14, 2023, Avila met with 39-year-old Rebecca Carlson in his vehicle in Mineola, Donnelly said.

He contacted the victim and they agreed to meet in person to engage in a sex act. Avila and the victim got into an argument that became physical, leading to him strangling Carlson to death, the D.A. said.

Avila disposed of the victim’s body next to a dumpster behind the Advanced Auto Parts retail store in South Hempstead.

"Avila will now spend more than two decades of his young life behind bars for his callous violence. Our thoughts remain with Rebecca’s family as her killer is brought to justice," Donnelly said.