Undocumented Immigrant Accused Of 2 Murders

MIAMI, FL — A 37-year-old undocumented immigrant from Honduras has been accused of murdering two women — both of whom he had sex with — in what police feared had the makings of a serial killer case. Juan Hernandez-Caseres could face the death penalty in connection with the murders of Neidy Roche and Ann Farran. But his legacy could have been far worse had it not been for a warm South Florida day and a can of Coca-Cola.

Miami-Dade police said Hernandez-Caseres confessed to killing the women in separate incidents in March and June after paying them for sex. But the break in the case came on Thursday when he reached for a Coke as he was being watched by Miami-Dade detectives.

"During the surveillance, investigators were able to observe 'the subject' drinking out of a Coca-Cola soda can," according to court documents filed in the case. "Investigators then observed 'the subject' attempt to throw the Coca-Cola in a dumpster. However, the Coca-Cola can struck the side of the dumpster and fell to the ground."

The alleged murderer's biggest mistake turned out to be littering.

"Investigators then recovered the can shortly after 'the subject' walked away," investigators explained in the court documents. "A male DNA profile was obtained from the Coca-Cola can."

But court documents also reveal that months before Hernandez-Caseres was accused of murdering his first victim, he had another run in with the law, which could have turned up his illegal immigration status.

Hernandez-Caseres was arrested by Miami-Dade police on Nov. 26 for false report of an armed carjacking. But it was not clear whether his illegal immigration status was flagged by U.S. immigration officials at that time.

Spokesman Nestor Yglesias with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami told Patch on Wednesday that federal officials lodged an immigration detainer against Hernandez-Caseres following his arrest on murder charges but couldn't comment as to whether a similar detainer was filed following the November arrest.

"ICE is focused on identifying, arresting and removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members as well as individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws," Yglesias said.

While his immigration status may not have surfaced until he was arrested for murder, it is clear that the Coke discarded by Hernandez-Caseres provided a crucial link in the investigation.

Forensic specialists from the Miami-Dade Police Department's Forensic Services Bureau were able to compare DNA samples from the Coke can to traces of DNA left behind on Roche's neck and left hand.

They were a match. There were other pieces of evidence too — cell phone records, tire tracks.

Miami-Dade detectives were already trying to solve the March 2 murder of Roche when investigators became aware of the murder of Ann Farran in the city of Miami last Wednesday.

The 41-year-old Farran was found dead on June 13 at NW 25th Avenue and 37th Street after police received a call of an unconscious female laying on the sidewalk.

Farran had been punched in the throat and left on a sidewalk. But city of Miami police had one advantage in the case — they had surveillance video of her body being dumped out of a black Nissan Maxima.

"A white male is seen exiting from the driver's door and walking around the rear of the vehicle to the front passenger door," according to court documents. "The white male opens the passenger door, pulls a white human body from inside the passenger's side of the vehicle and places it on the sidewalk. The male closes the passenger door, walks around the rear side of the vehicle, closes the driver's door and drives away south on NW 25 Avenue at approximately 06:28 hours."

The time and manner that Farran was left on the sidewalk was eerily similar to that of Roche, whose body was found at 6:05 a.m. on Friday, March 2. She would have celebrated her 39th birthday last Saturday,

"MDPD Homicide detectives collaborated with investigators from the city of Miami Police Department due the similarities of the facts surrounding the murder of Ann Farran," according to Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dadee Police Department. "As investigators followed all leads, to include the examination of DNA evidence, the subject was identified as Juan Hernandez-Caseres."

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch the similarities in the two cases, included the victims ages, race and how their bodies were found.

"They were both found on the side of the road. They were both females," Zabaleta explained. "I know that we were able to positively identify him due to DNA results."

MDPD detectives arrested Hernandez-Caseres at his home. His confession came later, according to police.

"The subject was transported to MDPD, where he confessed to the murder of Neidy Roche," Cowart explained. "City of Miami Police Department investigators also interviewed Juan Hernandez-Caseres and he confessed to the murder of Ann Farran."

The investigation was conducted by the Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Bureau, the city of Miami Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Photo courtesy Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation