Police arrested and charged Florida man with second-degree murder for the death of his 21-year-old niece, authorities confirm. The suspect, Stephen M. 44-year-old, was in secret sexual relationship for years with the dead girl.
The victim was identified as 21-year-old W. Mendoza. Stephen is married to Mendoza’s aunt and had allegedly been having a “secret sexual relationship” with his wife’s niece for two years, police said.
One morning Myers allegedly saw Mendoza as she was driving home and followed her. “As the victim exited her car, [Stephen] exited his truck with a firearm,” the arrest report said. He “demanded to know who the victim had been with all night and an argument ensued.”
“At some point during the argument,” police said, Stephen allegedly shot Mendoza multiple times before fleeing the scene.
According to the report, Stephen then returned home and allegedly told his wife that he had killed Mendoza. Following his confession, he fled his home and was found by police few days later.
Myers later was recorded confessing to shooting the victim, police said. He was obviously jealous on seeing someone else.
“She was a very good person,” Mendoza’s uncle told the outlet. “I don’t know why anyone would’ve done this … She was a student and she also worked two jobs and we were all looking forward to her birthday coming up next month.”
