A man has been found guilty of killing his army reservist girlfriend, even though her body has never been located. Luis Antonio Gomes Akay, aged 39, was convicted of murdering Anna Laura Costa Porsborg, 22, in 2022. Following less than three hours of deliberation, a jury reached the verdict. Gomes Akay now faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison and is set to appear for sentencing on April 27.
According to court proceedings, the couple traveled from New Jersey to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve in 2022 and stayed at a hotel in El Segundo. They explored local sites over the next few days, but an argument erupted on December 27 after a visit to a bowling alley.
Upon returning to their hotel, Porsborg disappeared without a trace. Despite extensive searching, her body has never been recovered. The Los Angeles County DA’s Office reported that Gomes Akay was observed carrying a large suitcase out of the hotel two days later. Further evidence from phone and GPS records indicated that he drove to the Angeles National Forest where he spent about an hour before returning to the hotel and reporting Porsborg missing.
During the trial, it was revealed that the defendant exhibited controlling, jealous, and possessive behavior. Testimonies from witnesses from Brazil highlighted a previous incident where Gomes Akay’s ex-girlfriend, Ana Claudia Dos Santos, went missing after separating from him, with her body never being found.
Additionally, Gomes Akay’s friends testified that he frequently stated ‘no body, no crime,’ adding a chilling dimension to the case. Porsborg, a Brazilian native, had been in contact with her mother throughout her LA trip, but communication abruptly ceased, prompting her mother to alert authorities who then involved the FBI.
A detective from the El Segundo Police Department visited the hotel room where Gomes Akay and Porsborg had been staying on December 31, 2022. Gomes Akay claimed that Porsborg had left the hotel after an argument, expressing her desire to sever all contact.
During a preliminary hearing in 2023, the same detective noted fresh abrasions on Gomes Akay’s hands and apparent rug burns near his elbows. Subsequently, Gomes Akay was arrested on suspicion of murder on January 1, 2023.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman stated: “For over three years, Anna’s family and friends have awaited justice. Today, the jury has rendered a guilty verdict for first-degree murder against this sociopath, bringing closure to the pursuit of justice for Anna.” He commended Deputy District Attorney Hilary Williams and the investigators for their diligent presentation of the case, emphasizing the challenges of ‘no body’ cases which heavily rely on circumstantial evidence.