Florida man turns self in after shooting his wife
Man claims he killed his wife in self-defense
A Florida man purportedly confessed on Facebook to killing his wife and posted a chilling, graphic photo her of bloodied body before turning himself into authorities on Thursday.
Derek Medina, of South Miami, posted the grisly photograph of his 26-year-old wife’s body on the floor, claiming Jennifer Alfonso had punched him and he was wasn’t going to tolerate the abuse any longer.
“Im going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife love you guys, miss you guys takecare Facebook people you will see me in the news,” the now-deleted Facebook page read.
Medina, a 31-year-old property management supervisor who has written e-books on subjects like saving marriage through communication, said the couple became involved in a heated argument in a bedroom when he armed himself with a gun and pointed it at Alfonso, according to an affidavit.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Medina said Alfonso then left the bedroom, returning later to say she intended to leave Medina, who responded by confronting her in the kitchen. At that point Alfonso began punching Medina, he said, prompting him to return upstairs to retrieve his gun to confront her again. After Alfonso grabbed a knife, Medina said he was able to disarm her and put the knife in a drawer, at which point Alfonso began punching him again. Medina then shot her several times, according to affidavit.
Alfonso’s 10-year-old daughter, who was upstairs at the time of the killing, was unharmed.
Medina’s post about the killing occurred at 11:11 a.m. Thursday. A subsequent post, also at 11:11 a.m. Thursday, was titled “Rip Jennifer Alfonso” and contained a gruesome photograph depicting a bloodied woman in black leotards slumped on the floor. It appeared as if Alfonso had fallen backward from a kneeling position, with her legs bent to her sides and blood on her arm and cheek. The macabre photograph was posted for more than five hours before Facebook removed the page late Thursday afternoon.
A Facebook spokeswoman said in an email to The Associated Press that she couldn't comment on a law enforcement investigation.
"The content was reported to us," the spokeswoman wrote. "We took action on the profile — removing the content and disabling the profile, and we reached out to law enforcement. We take action on all content that violates our terms, which are clearly laid out on our site."
Police officials have declined comment on the Facebook posts.
Medina, in YouTube videos linked to his Facebook page, appears in a martial arts studio, where he punches and kicks a heavy bag. He also claimed on his Facebook page to have appeared in the Miami-based crime drama "Burn Notice," although his name doesn't appear in online credits for the show.
Public records indicated that Medina and Alfonso first married in January 2010, divorced in February 2012 and then remarried three months later. Medina purchased the condominium unit where the couple lived in March 2012 for $107,000.
On a personal blog identified by the Miami Herald, a user named Derek Medina touted e-books of his on subjects ranging from saving marriage through communication to "humans who are gifted and can see the supernatural spirit ghost world we live in."
"The author was with his wife in New York and his wife was attacked by a ghost," he writes, describing the e-book. "She was seeing a ghost and was being taunted and messed with. She informed her husband and he told her to go to sleep and he would watch over her. Minutes later he was attacked by a demon ghost and he was sick and throwing up."
Photographs posted on Wednesday by Medina showed the family enjoying a meal near an unidentified marina and lounging by a swimming pool.
Medina, who never called 911 and turned himself into authorities before confessing, has been charged with first-degree murder.
Neighbor Phil Eby said he didn't know the couple very well but expressed surprise at the shooting.
"I met him a couple of times. He seemed like a pretty nice guy," Eby said. "But I don't remember her at all."
Fellow residents at Medina’s townhouse complex told The Associated Press Friday that the “polite” man possessed a concealed weapon permit and portrayed himself as a neighborhood watch volunteer.
But Alfonso’s former manager at a Miami restaurant told the Miami Herald that Medina was extremely jealous and had hit Alfonso in the past.
“She would be bruised up,” said Amada Cooper, who characterized Medina as a controlling husband who tried to force her to quit her job as a server because he didn’t want her working nights.
After several violent episodes, another co-worker implored Alfonso to leave him.
“He would always come back, begging her … come back,” said Cathy LaBella. “She would say he was going to change. She was in love with him.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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