A 31-year-old Cuban national, identified as Roiniel Pérez, is facing charges including second-degree murder with a weapon, grand theft, and other related offenses in connection to the gruesome killing of Oscar René Hernández Augustín, a 52-year-old Guatemalan man. The victim's remains, severely decomposed and burned from the waist down, were discovered last Thursday in a rural area of southwest Miami-Dade.
The body was found beside a dirt road in the 23600 block of Southwest 227th Avenue, located in the Redland area, as reported by local media. According to police reports, both the victim and his 2015 white Toyota Corolla had been reported missing just two days before the discovery.
Investigation Unveils Disturbing Details
An autopsy revealed that Hernández Augustín had been stabbed multiple times before being left at the scene by his killer. On Sunday, officers from the Miami-Dade South District Police located the victim's vehicle in the 12000 block of South Dixie Highway in the Goulds area. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Pérez fled, leading to a police chase that concluded with a crash on Southwest 137th Avenue.
After colliding with another vehicle, whose occupants sustained minor injuries, Pérez abandoned the crash site and attempted to hide under a parked car. He was eventually apprehended near the Café-Restaurant Hidalgo.
Evidence Linking Pérez to the Crime
The investigation uncovered numerous elements connecting Roiniel Pérez to the murder. During his arrest, police found the victim's identification and bank cards in Pérez's possession. He confessed to using one of Hernández Augustín’s credit cards multiple times. Additionally, Pérez’s cellphone contained incriminating photos, including images from inside the victim’s Corolla showing bloodstains on the rear seats, along with the victim’s credit cards and ID.
A photo of Pérez’s hand with multiple cuts, consistent with recent injuries, was also discovered. Detectives searched the victim’s car and found "a substantial amount of blood" on the back seats, along with several pairs of blue latex gloves similar to those found at the crime scene. This evidence supports the theory that the murder occurred inside the vehicle before the body was abandoned.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
According to the police report, Pérez claimed that Hernández Augustín picked him up at his residence early Tuesday morning, the day of the victim's disappearance. However, Pérez failed to provide a coherent explanation for the victim’s disappearance or the numerous cuts on his hands. Authorities have yet to determine if the two men knew each other prior or establish a clear motive for the murder.
Currently, Roiniel Pérez is held without bail at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He faces charges of second-degree murder with a weapon, grand theft, and other related offenses. Police continue to investigate the circumstances and potential motives behind this brutal crime, urging anyone with additional information to contact local law enforcement.