Lakeland Woman In Jail Tried To Hire Hit Man To Kill Witness: Sheriff

TAMPA, FL — A Lakeland woman being held in the Falkenburg Road Jail is facing new charges after Hillsborough County sheriff's detention deputies said she tried to solicit fellow inmates to kill the prime suspect in the homicide case against her.

On March 28, detectives charged Fatima Garcia Avila, 21, with solicitation to commit murder after cooperating witnesses came forward and gave the sheriff's jail intelligence squad information that Garcia Avila was trying to hire a hit man.

Garcia Avila has been in custody since Aug. 2, awaiting trial on homicide charges without bond.

She and Daniel Negrete, 27, were arrested after detectives said they drove together to a victim's home in the 3000 block of Al Simmons Road in Dover on July 18, killed the person and then set the house on fire.

Detectives said they also connected Garcia Avila and Negrete to a man found dead of upper-body trauma on July 26 at the Baker Creek Boat Ramp at 12095 Thonotosassa Road in Thonotosassa.

Detectives said Garcia Avila and Negrete had family ties to both of those killed.

"This is a woman who has no regard for life other than her own, and she continues to prove that even behind bars," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "I commend the work of the detention deputies and staff for being attentive, alert, and stopping another potential murder."

Garcia Avila has been placed under strict restrictions to protect the witnesses and the integrity of this investigation.