Man Convicted of Murdering Girlfriend at El Segundo Hotel

Luis Gomes Akay found guilty of first-degree murder despite no body found

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:09pm

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Luis Antonio Gomes Akay, 39, was found guilty of murdering his 22-year-old girlfriend Anna Laura Costa Porsberg four years ago in an El Segundo hotel room. Prosecutors say Gomes Akay was 'controlling, jealous and possessive' and that his ex-girlfriend also went missing in Brazil after breaking up with him, with her body never found.

Why it matters

This 'no body' murder case highlights the challenges prosecutors face in securing convictions without physical evidence, relying instead on circumstantial details like cellphone and GPS data, witness testimony, and the defendant's own suspicious behavior and statements.

The details

On Christmas Eve 2022, Gomes Akay and Porsberg checked into an El Segundo hotel after traveling from New Jersey. After an argument at a bowling alley on Dec. 27, Porsberg was never seen or heard from again. Gomes Akay was later seen dragging a large suitcase from the hotel, and cellphone and GPS evidence showed him driving to the Angeles National Forest for an hour before returning to the hotel and reporting his girlfriend missing.

  • On Christmas Eve 2022, Gomes Akay and Porsberg checked into an El Segundo hotel.
  • On Dec. 27, 2022, the couple got into an argument after going to a bowling alley, and Porsberg wasn't seen or heard from again.
  • Two days later, Gomes Akay was seen dragging a large suitcase from the hotel.

The players

Luis Antonio Gomes Akay

A 39-year-old man found guilty of murdering his 22-year-old girlfriend Anna Laura Costa Porsberg in an El Segundo hotel room four years ago. Prosecutors say he was 'controlling, jealous and possessive' and that his ex-girlfriend also went missing in Brazil after breaking up with him, with her body never found.

Anna Laura Costa Porsberg

A 22-year-old woman who was murdered by her boyfriend Luis Gomes Akay in an El Segundo hotel room four years ago. Her body was never found.

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What they’re saying

“For over three years, Anna's family and friends have waited for justice. Today the jury has spoken, returned its guilty verdict for first-degree murder against this sociopath and justice has arrived.”

— Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney

“So-called 'no body' cases are some of the most difficult to prove because they rely so heavily on circumstantial evidence.”

— Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney

What’s next

Gomes Akay is scheduled to appear at an April 27 sentencing hearing, where he faces 20 years to life in state prison.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges prosecutors face in securing convictions in 'no body' murder cases, where they must rely on circumstantial evidence and the defendant's own suspicious behavior to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It also raises questions about patterns of controlling and abusive behavior in relationships.