Man accused of killing wife talks with her family after arraignment

DELTONA, Fla. — Channel 9 has confirmed a Deltona man who admitted to killing his wife sat down with her family following his arraignment on Thursday.

Luis Toledo pleaded not guilty Thursday to second-degree murder in the killing of his wife, Yessenia Suarez, whose body has not yet been recovered.

A short time after his arraignment, Toledo was granted a meeting with Suarez's family, but there's no word on what was discussed.

A little more than a month ago, Suarez and her two children, 8-year-old Michael Otto and 9-year-old Thalia Otto, disappeared.

Toledo admitted to police he killed Suraez but said an accomplice killed the children. No bodies have been found and Toledo has refused to cooperate with authorities.

On Thursday, Suarez's family came face-to-face with Toledo in court. As he was being ushered out of the courtroom, Toledo tried to say something to Suarez's family but he was being moved too fast to make contact.

"I think that he was trying to tell me that he wants to talk to me and I would love to talk to him, too," said Suarez's mother, Felicia Perez.

Suarez's family said they are convinced that Toledo is the only one who can bring the search for the bodies, and their misery, to an end.

Suarez's mother said she only wants to know the location of her daughter and grandchildren, something Toledo's public defender would not discuss.

Channel 9's Blaine Tolison asked Toledo's attorney, "Is he ever going to be willing to answer any questions or assist investigators in locating the bodies of the children or Yessenia?"

"I am not going to be able to talk about anything that Mr. Toledo has to say with me in confidence as his attorney," said attorney Matt Phillips.

Toledo has not been charged in the deaths of the children.

Suarez's family told Channel 9 they believe jail is wearing Toledo down, but it's nothing that concerns them at this time.

"I think it's taking a toll on him so far from what I can see, but like I said, it's between him, God and the justice system," said Suarez's stepfather, Ruben Perez.

WFTV