Home / Crime
Missing Army Reservist case ends in murder conviction for Luis Antonio Gomes Akay
Luis Antonio Gomes Akay was found guilty of killing his girlfriend during their trip
A Los Angeles jury has convicted 39-year-old Luis Antonio Gomes Akay of first-degree murder in connection with the 2022 death of his girlfriend, Anna Laura Costa Porsborg.
The verdict concludes a harrowing legal chapter for the family of the 22-year-old US Army Reservist, whose body has never been recovered.
Prosecutors successfully argued that a Christmas vacation from New Jersey to Southern California turned fatal following a domestic dispute.
The couple arrived in El Segundo on Christmas Eve 2022, but Porsborg vanished three days later after an argument at a bowling alley.
While Gomes Akay claimed she left him voluntarily, CCTV footage showed him dragging a heavy suitcase from their hotel.
Furthermore, GPS data placed him in the Angeles National Forest for an hour shortly after her disappearance.
Trial evidence painted a picture of a "controlling, jealous and possessive" partner, with friends testifying that the defendant frequently used the phrase, “no body, no crime.”
Demonstrating a professional "human touch," the court heard how Porsborg’s mother in Brazil first alerted authorities after her daughter's constant stream of holiday photos abruptly ceased.
Despite the conviction, Gomes Akay continues to maintain his innocence. His attorney, Stephen Robert Kahn, described the proceedings as a "complex, emotional case" and confirmed plans to appeal.
Porsborg, a dedicated Reservist originally from Brazil, is remembered for her service and her close bond with her family.
A sentencing hearing for Gomes Akay has been scheduled for 27 April at the L.A. County Superior Court.
