A chilling case of murder and manipulation unfolded in Riverview, Florida, when a man was forced to witness his girlfriend’s brutal killing before being coerced into helping the suspects cover up the crime.
The victim, 41-year-old Hiojaira Mercedes Velez-Bonilla, was allegedly murdered by her cousin’s boyfriend, Arnaldo Cintron, and her cousin, Giselle Marie Santiago Bonilla.
After the brutal killing, the suspects forced the witness to don Velez-Bonilla’s dress and wig before leading him to dispose of her body in the Florida mangroves.
Brutal Murder and Forced Cleanup
The horrific events began on the morning of Friday, when an argument between Velez-Bonilla and Cintron escalated into violence. Cintron allegedly shoved the victim to the floor and repeatedly stabbed her while making violent threats.
The victim’s boyfriend attempted to flee, but Cintron and Santiago Bonilla blocked his way, threatening him if he did not help clean up the crime scene. The suspects confiscated the man’s cellphone and made him participate in the aftermath for hours.
During this time, Cintron reportedly told the witness he did the murder “for him,” and Santiago Bonilla claimed Velez-Bonilla “deserved it.”
Forced to Dress Like the Victim
After cleaning the scene, Cintron and Santiago Bonilla made the witness wear one of the victim’s dresses and a wig, effectively forcing him to participate in the cover-up.
They stuffed Velez-Bonilla’s dismembered body into a cardboard box, covered it with porch screening, and placed the body in the victim’s car. The witness was then forced to drive them to meet an individual referred to as “Tarzan,” where the suspects discussed how to best dispose of the body.
Body Dumped in Florida Mangroves
The suspects eventually decided to take the body to a secluded area in Weedon Island Natural Preserve in St. Petersburg. They drove through dense mangroves and dumped the body.
However, after leaving the area, they realized they had forgotten the trash bag containing cleaning supplies and the murder weapon, forcing the witness to go back and retrieve it.
The body was eventually dumped, and the suspects made the witness clean the car before Cintron accessed the victim’s bank account, offering some of her money to him.
Charges Against the Suspects
Arnaldo Cintron has been charged with second-degree murder, unlawfully moving a dead body, tampering with evidence, and tampering with a witness. He is currently held without bond in the Hillsborough County Jail.
Giselle Santiago Bonilla faces charges of unlawfully moving a dead body, tampering with evidence, accessory after the fact, and tampering with a witness. She has a bond set at $200,000. The two are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Sheriff’s Statement on the Case
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister condemned the brutal nature of the crime, calling it a “senseless” act of violence followed by a “callous attempt to cover it up.” He praised the efforts of the detectives in relentlessly pursuing justice for Velez-Bonilla, ensuring that both suspects would face the full consequences of their actions.
