Firefighter's Son Testifies About Finding Father's 'Ice Cold' Body

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Testimony was heard Friday at a preliminary hearing held for three suspects accused in the murder of veteran Detroit firefighter David Madrigal in his home last December.

Timmy Soto, 32, Nichole Oneill, 33, and Christian Rasnick, 19, are facing charges of felony murder, armed robbery, arson and larceny.

Madrigal's son, also named David Madrigal, said that he went to his the house after he hadn't heard from his father in a few days. He later discovered his father's body inside of the house in a chair.

"He was laid back in his recliner with his feet up and blood coming out of his nose, forehead and ears, I think," the younger Madrigal said. "I felt him with my hand on the leg to see if he was warm -- he was ice-cold, so I didn't want to touch him anymore."

Most of the hearing centered on a safe that was taken from Madrigal's home the night of his death. Angel Miranda-Moll took the stand and said he helped Soto to crack open the safe with a sledgehammer.

"I never asked him a question, I went along with it because I didn't want to get on his bad side," Miranda-Moll said.

The three will return on May 4 for the hearing that will determine if they face trial for murder.

Madrigal's cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. It's not yet clear how long Madrigal might have been dead.

Police say Madrigal's SUV was stolen and was later found burned-out.

Friends say Madrigal was assigned to Engine 33 and had planned on retiring this June.