Family Pleas for Help

While police stopped short of publicly calling him a suspect, they are looking closely at the estranged husband of a Sagaponack woman who disappeared nearly three weeks ago as the search for her continues.

Anthony B. Rutkowski, an attorney representing Carlos R. Aucapina, said that police had searched his client’s house and seized a vehicle. A work truck was seen being taken away on a flatbed truck from an abandoned house on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, where police officers and a Suffolk County Crime Lab vehicle were conducting an investigation on Oct. 15, and near where police have been searching in the woods.

Lilia Aucapina, known as Esperanza, a 40-year-old mother of two who lived on Toppings Path in Sagaponack, was reported missing by her children on Oct. 10. At a press conference last week, Southampton Town Police Lt. Susan Ralph declined to say whether police had any evidence to indicate a crime had taken place, or whether her husband was considered a suspect. “We’re not ruling out anything at this point,” Lieutenant Ralph said.

But, Mr. Aucapina’s attorney told The Star, his client is fully cooperating with police, and was going to submit to a lie detector test.

“We have nothing to hide,” Mr. Rutkowski said last Thursday after Mr. Aucapina’s appearance in East Hampton Town Justice Court, where his client was answering a criminal contempt charge. Mr. Aucapina was charged on Oct. 16 with the misdemeanor for allegedly violating an order of protection his estranged wife had against him on the morning she disappeared. 

His wife was last seen in the parking lot of a medical complex on Montauk Highway in Wainscott on the morning of Oct. 10, when a male friend brought her there to pick up her car. Her estranged husband soon showed up and confronted the man. Her friend called East Hampton Town police. Mr. Aucapina reportedly left before police arrived.

Her family reported her missing to Southampton Town police 12 hours after that confrontation.

Asked, while leaving court, if he had been cooperative, Mr. Aucapina, 50, said, “Absolutely,” before his companions told him not to talk.

Lieutenant Ralph said police have received information that a woman fitting Ms. Aucapina’s description was seen walking west on Montauk Highway, as far west as Water Mill, on the day she went missing.

Police have searched for her daily in and around Sagaponack and Bridgehampton using all-terrain vehicles, K-9 units, and helicopters. Meanwhile, her family has been distributing flyers with her picture around the South Fork and praying for her safe return.

At a press conference last week, they asked for the public’s help in finding her.

“We just want her back home, that’s what we want,” said Ms. Aucapina’s niece, Maria Duchi of East Hampton, at Southampton Town police headquarters in Hampton Bays on Oct. 21.

Her niece said the family’s strong Christian faith is sustaining them. “We believe, you know, that’s she safe, she’s alive. . . . We just have faith,” Ms. Duchi said, though she added, “we have our days where there is doubt.”

Ms. Aucapina has lived on the South Fork for 20 years since leaving Ecuador. She worked as a house cleaner and was devoted to her children, ages 14 and 21, both honor roll students, her family said. “She’s a good mom. Every event the kids had, anything, any little thing, anything at all, she would be there,” Ms. Duchi said. “We’re just very sad they have to have gone through this whole situation.”

Her children are staying with Ms. Duchi’s family, and she said they are trying to keep life as normal as possible for them.

“We’re a very close family. Our bond is not just any type of family — we’re very close to one another. We love one another. We look after one another,” Ms. Duchi said.

Carlos Parra, a brother of Ms. Aucapina, was also present at the press conference, but declined to speak. He was among the last people to see her, as he was present during the confrontation on the morning she went missing.

Through a translator, one of Ms. Aucapina’s older brothers said he appreciated the community’s help so far. “We just want them to do the same and a little more.” He said the family is in shock over his sister’s disappearance, “because she is a good woman, and we never expected she would not come home, and we have no explanation for it.”

Mr. Aucapina was also charged with violating the order of protection in Southampton Town Justice Court after he reportedly drove past his wife’s house. During his arraignment in East Hampton court, his attorney said Mr. Aucapina lives next door to his estranged wife. “He is alleged to have driven past his wife’s house, that he has to drive past,” Mr. Rutkowski said.

Those with information can contact police at 702-2230 or email [email protected].

For video from the press conference click here.

With Reporting by T.E. McMorrow