Assistant State Attorneys Trevor Selph and Abe Thornburg prosecuted the case.
The crime was discovered in April 2021, when the victim’s son contacted the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, to check on his mother, because he could not get in touch with her. Deputies went to the home and found her, deceased, on the floor of a bedroom. The Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death was asphyxiation by smothering.
The Warrant for the arrest of Montejo-Luna was first issued on November 3, 2021 after Montejo-Luna failed to meet with law enforcement, after agreeing to do so. Deputies wanted to speak with Montejo Luna regarding the death of his estranged wife, 57 year old Aleyda Garcia of Montura Ranch Estates, Clewiston, Florida.
The defendant, who had previously lived at the home, was asked to meet with law enforcement multiple times, and agreed to do so, but never showed up. During that time, the investigation revealed evidence that led to the defendant being responsible for the crime.
The defendant’s DNA was found under the victim’s fingernails, his cell phone was in the area at the time of the murder, and Hendry County Sheriff’s Office license plate readers captured photos of the defendant’s car, driving in the area around the time of the murder. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.
The defendant fled to Cuba and was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and extradited back to the U.S. to stand trial.
The defendant, who had previously lived at the home, was asked to meet with law enforcement multiple times, and agreed to do so, but never showed up. During that time, the investigation revealed evidence that led to the defendant being responsible for the crime.
The defendant’s DNA was found under the victim’s fingernails, his cell phone was in the area at the time of the murder, and Hendry County Sheriff’s Office license plate readers captured photos of the defendant’s car, driving in the area around the time of the murder. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.
The defendant fled to Cuba and was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and extradited back to the U.S. to stand trial.
See January 2022 original story on Southwest Florida Online
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