Accused stalker arrested for murdering his ex after her toddler was spotted covered in blood: cops
Joy Chandra Nath, 29, was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Maria Camila Garcia-Molina, 24, several times in her neck, torso, and arms — while under a restraining order, accused of stalking her, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office said.
The mom's body was found in her vehicle after her young daughter was found wandering around the parking lot of their residential apartment complex on Saturday afternoon.
Advertisement
The toddler had dried blood on her face and clothes — and told cops her mom had been with a man named 'Joy' when she was 'hit in the head and was now sleeping,' according to an arrest report obtained by CBS Miami.
4 Joy Chandra Nath allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death, leaving her toddler wandering the streets covered in blood.
Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office
Garcia-Molina's body was found covered in blankets on the rear floorboard of the car, which was also spattered with blood, the arrest report noted.
Advertisement
4 Maria Camila Garcia-Molina was found in her vehicle with multiple stab wounds.
The young mother had already taken a restraining order out against Nath, accusing him of stalking her, the outlet said.
He had also confronted Garcia-Molina and her new boyfriend Friday night at a local mall, according to a police report obtained by the outlet.
4 The young mother had already taken out a restraining order against Nath.
Advertisement
Nath allegedly later returned to the crime scene in a black Lexus with the headlights off while investigators were still processing the crime scene, according to the report.
Police noticed scratch marks and bruising on his face, neck, and arms.
Nath allegedly told police he was planning on returning some of Garcia-Molina's items, which were in his possession, the outlet said.
4 Nath was denied bail at his arraignment.
CBS News Miami
Advertisement
The perp waived his right to an attorney and provided a recorded statement saying he spent time with the young mother and daughter earlier that day for breakfast, according to the report.
A search of his vehicle revealed a slew of Garcia-Molina's possessions, including her purse, cellphone, and several forms of ID.
Cell phone data shows she traveled from her apartment to Nath's residence, then back to the lot where her body was found, the outlet reported.
Nath was denied bail at his arraignment Monday, court records indicate.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
Stepbrothers dispute over clothing leads to Miami shooting, police say
A verbal dispute between two stepbrothers over clothing escalated into gunfire Tuesday afternoon in Miami, police said. Authorities said the altercation ended when one of the stepbrothers produced a firearm and a shot was fired. A boy was injured in the shooting near North Miami Avenue and 31st Street shortly before 5 p.m. He was taken by a family member to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Miami police said no arrests have been made as the investigation remains active. "Several key aspects still need to be thoroughly examined," the department said in a statement. Officials expect to provide a definitive update on potential arrests by Wednesday morning.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Heat security guard pleads guilty to selling millions in stolen memorabilia, including LeBron James NBA Finals jersey
A former Miami Heat security guard pleaded guilty Tuesday in Florida to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce, in connection to the millions of dollars worth of memorabilia he was alleged to have stolen from the team. Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, is a retired 25-year veteran of the Miami police department and was employed by the Heat from 2016 to 2021. He also worked in security for the NBA from 2022 until this year. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Per NBC 6 South Florida, his sentencing date has been set for Oct. 31, when he will face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of probation and a fine of up to $250,000. His lawyer reportedly hopes his years in law enforcement will encourage leniency: "He's depressed, naturally, but he accepts responsibility for his behavior and we're gonna work through this issue in his life," defense attorney Robert Buschel said after the hearing. "I hope that the judge will consider all factors in his life and his history as a good person, he was an exemplary police officer in the City of Miami, he's been retired for close to 10 years," Buschel said. "This was an unfortunate set of decisions that he made and he's going to accept responsibility for that." It was during his time working game-day security at the Kaseya Center that Perez was alleged to have stolen hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia from a secured equipment room. The items were kept to be future exhibits at a Heat museum. By the DOJ's count, Perez stole more than 400 jerseys and sold more than 100 of them online, making approximately $1.9 million over a 3 1/2-year period. The most notable garment: a LeBron James jersey worn in the NBA Finals, sold for roughly $100,000 and was later auctioned off at Sotheby's for $3.7 million. That jersey would be the one James wore during the Heat's win in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, in which the superstar earned his second title and Finals MVP award. At the time, it was the third-highest price ever received for a game-worn jersey, behind a Michael Jordan jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals ($10.91 million) and Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" jersey ($9.28 million). Law enforcement reportedly executed a search warrant at Perez's home in April and recovered nearly 300 pieces of memorabilia, all of which the the Heat confirmed to have come from their facility.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Abrego Garcia's lawyers want smuggling charges dismissed on grounds of vindictive prosecution
Lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia asked a federal judge on Tuesday to dismiss a human smuggling case against him, saying the government was prosecuting the Maryland construction worker to punish him for challenging his removal to El Salvador. Their motion filed in court said attempts to dismiss indictments on the grounds of 'selective or vindictive prosecution' are infrequent and rarely succeed, 'but if there has ever been a case for dismissal on those grounds, this is that case.' The attorneys said senior cabinet members, Justice Department leaders and President Donald Trump mounted unprecedented public attacks on Abrego Garcia and that 'vindictiveness is clear from the record.' Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire in Tennessee, where Abrego Garcia is in jail, said in an email prosecutors would have no other comment beyond what they file in response to the motion. No prosecutor motion was filed as of late Tuesday. Abrego Garcia became a prominent face in the debate over Trump's immigration policies following his wrongful expulsion to El Salvador in March. Trump's administration violated a U.S. immigration judge's order in 2019 that shields Abrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvador because he likely faces threats of gang violence there. The administration claimed Abrego Garcia was in the MS-13 gang, although he wasn't charged and has repeatedly denied the allegation. Facing mounting pressure and a U.S. Supreme Court order, the Trump administration returned Abrego Garcia to the U.S. in June to face the smuggling charges, which his attorneys have called 'preposterous.' Tuesday's motion alleged the government was trying to paint Abrego Garcia as a criminal to punish him for challenging his removal to El Salvador and to avoid 'the embarrassment of accepting responsibility for its unlawful conduct." The motion said the government also aimed to change public opinion about Abrego Garcia's deportation. Abrego Garcia's attorneys asked the court at least to order a hearing on the government's motives. The smuggling case stems from a 2022 traffic stop for speeding, during which Abrego Garcia was driving a vehicle with nine passengers. Police in Tennessee suspected human smuggling, but he was allowed to drive on. A federal judge in Maryland last month prohibited the Trump administration from taking Abrego Garcia into immediate immigration custody if he's released from jail. The judge ordered the government to provide three business days notice if Immigration and Customs Enforcement intends to initiate deportation proceedings against him.
