Florida Murder Suspect Forced Witness to Wear Victim’s Clothing in Bizarre Cover-Up

A Florida murder case has taken a bizarre and disturbing turn with revelations that the suspect allegedly forced a witness to wear the victim’s clothing before disposing of her body. The gruesome details emerged from a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s affidavit, painting a picture of coercion and a frantic attempt to conceal a brutal crime.

Arnaldo Antonio Cintron, 42, is accused of fatally stabbing 42-year-old Hiojaira Mercedes Velez-Bonilla during a domestic argument. The incident, which occurred in the victim’s Riverview home, was followed by a series of acts designed to intimidate a witness and hide evidence from law enforcement.

How did the suspect attempt to conceal the Florida murder?

The cover-up began immediately after the violent attack. According to the witness, who was the victim’s boyfriend, Cintron issued a chilling threat: “I don’t like witnesses.” Under duress, the boyfriend was forced to assist Cintron and another suspect, Giselle Marie Santiago Bonilla, in cleaning the bloody crime scene with bleach and wipes.

The situation then escalated into the bizarre. Cintron allegedly ordered the witness to put on Velez-Bonilla’s clothing. Surveillance footage later confirmed that Cintron himself disguised his identity using one of the victim’s long dresses and a wig. This macabre charade was part of a plan to transport the victim’s body without attracting suspicion. The remains were placed in a cardboard box, loaded into the victim’s Nissan Rogue, and driven to Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg, where they were discarded in a mangrove area.

What evidence led to the arrests in the case?

The investigation moved forward when the witness, who had been living in fear for months, finally approached the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s District II office on August 15 to report the murder. His detailed account provided detectives with a roadmap of the crime and the subsequent cover-up. Authorities were able to recover the victim’s body from the disposal site, corroborating key parts of the witness’s story.

The arrests of Cintron and Santiago Bonilla followed swiftly. Cintron now faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder with a weapon, tampering with evidence, witness tampering, and unlawfully moving a body. Prosecutors are seeking to hold him without bond, citing a violent history and prior felony convictions. Santiago Bonilla, identified as the victim’s cousin, has also been arrested and charged in connection with the murder.

The ongoing investigation and legal proceedings

The case continues to develop as investigators work to gather all evidence. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized the calculated nature of the crime and the efforts to intimidate the witness into silence. The witness’s decision to come forward, despite alleged threats against his life and the life of the victim’s teenage son, was a crucial break in the case. Cintron remains held without bond, while a bond of $200,000 has been set for Santiago Bonilla as the judicial process unfolds.

This disturbing case highlights the extreme lengths to which some individuals will go to avoid accountability, weaving a tale of violence, coercion, and a truly bizarre attempt at disguise that ultimately failed to prevent justice from being set in motion.