Felix Santos-Colon Jr.

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A gruesome discovery along the Schuylkill River Trail set off a homicide investigation in Norristown, authorities announced on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Felix Santos-Colon Jr., 46, who is unhoused in Norristown, was charged with First-Degree Murder in the killing of 44-year-old Oscar Traviezo-Tercero, whose body was found stuffed inside a trash can on Monday, Nov. 10 around 7 p.m., according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

A concerned citizen walking a wooded path near the trail spotted a trash bin lying in brush and initially thought the foul smell was rotting garbage. When he lifted a blanket inside the container, he realized he was looking at what appeared to be a human leg and called 911, investigators wrote in the affidavit.

Responding officers located numerous bicycle parts scattered around the area and later learned they matched pieces seen sticking out of a trash bin Santos-Colon was captured pulling in surveillance video the day after the victim was last seen alive.

Body Found In Trash Can

Traviezo-Tercero, who was unhoused and living near a car wash at Global Gas on Main Street, had been partially decomposed when detectives found him inside the Horizon trash can, wrapped with a red sleeping bag. He suffered multiple skull fractures, and the coroner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt-force trauma.

Investigators learned both men lived at the car wash, and the victim had previously called 911 on Nov. 2 claiming he was trying to protect a young woman who was the defendant’s girlfriend. She left before police arrived.

The last known sighting of Traviezo-Tercero alive was Nov. 4. Surveillance video from Nov. 5 shows Santos-Colon leaving the property pulling a completely full trash bin, with bike parts and other items visible. A second man riding a bicycle helped him push the heavy bin up an incline leading to the Schuylkill River Trail.

That man later told detectives he did not know there was a body inside.

Confession To Family

According to court documents, Santos-Colon’s daughter told detectives that on Nov. 4 her father came to her home “talking about death” and saying he had done something he should not have done. She said he later told her in Spanish “termine a alguien,” which she understood to mean “I killed someone.” He also said he was sorry.

During a recorded interview, Santos-Colon admitted hitting the victim three times with a baseball bat while the man sat in a chair near the dumpster behind the car wash, adding he was angry because the victim had threatened him. He told detectives he intended to bury the body at a nearby cemetery but abandoned the plan due to people in the area.

He instead moved Traviezo-Tercero’s body into the trash bin and wheeled it through Norristown to the wooded trail where it was discovered. He said he returned to the site several times considering whether to burn the body, but feared being caught. At one point, he saw a helicopter overhead and “knew he was in trouble.”

Arrest And Charges

Santos-Colon was arrested on Saturday, Nov. 15, and charged with:

  • Felony First-Degree Murder.
  • Felony Third-Degree Murder.
  • Misdemeanor Possessing an Instrument of Crime.  

His preliminary arraignment was held before Magisterial District Judge Michael P. Quinn, who denied bail because no bail is available for First-Degree Murder. Santos-Colon was remanded to Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Todd N. Barnes.

Details about Oscar Traviezo-Tercero's life were not immediately available. His loved ones are invited to share information with Daily Voice by emailing jpikora@dailyvoice.com.