Man Intentionally Sets Car on Fire with Spouse Inside in Hialeah Gardens: Police
The Blast That Shook the Neighborhood
Home doorbell cameras captured a blast in a Hialeah Gardens neighborhood in which police say a man intentionally set his car on fire with his spouse still inside.
The Early Morning Explosion
The incident happened at around 6 a.m. on Saturday. Neighbors said the explosion woke them up.
“I Get Up, and I Was Like, What’s Happening?”
“I get up, and I was like, what’s happening? Because the explosion was too, too, too loud,” neighbor Miguel Hernandez said. “It was not a ‘pow pow’ it was ‘bah bah’.”
The Victim’s Identity Remains a Secret
What Hernandez didn’t know at the time was that somebody was inside the passenger seat. Police said the body was burned beyond recognition.
The Suspect’s Motives
According to investigators, the blast was intentional. Noel Ruiz Mestre was charged with arson and murder, accused of using a homemade explosive device to kill his spouse.
A History of Suspicious Behavior
“The guy was a little more quiet, you know. He usually take a chair and sit in front of the house. He do nothing, I don’t know, he was really strange,” Hernandez said.
The Events Leading Up to the Blast
According to an arrest form, the couple got in the car and drove away from their home when the vehicle suddenly stopped. There was a dispute inside the car, and the spouse tried to get out but was unable to, and they continued arguing. Ruiz Mestre eventually got out of the car and allegedly intentionally set the explosion.
The Aftermath
Police said he then went back home and got rid of his singed clothes, and allegedly used a knife to stab himself in the stomach before taking off. Ruiz Mestre eventually called 911 for help with his wounds.
Charges and Consequences
Ruiz Mestre is still in the hospital recovering. As soon as he recovers, he’ll go to jail and face charges of murder and arson.
FAQs
* Who is the suspect? Noel Ruiz Mestre
* What was the motive? Intentional murder and arson
* What happened before the blast? The couple got into a dispute, and the spouse tried to get out but was unable
* What happened after the blast? The suspect went back home, got rid of his clothes, and stabbed himself in the stomach before calling 911 for help
* What are the charges? Murder and arson
