Teen strangled to death and left in backyard, police say; suspect held without bond
MIAMI - A Northeast Miami-Dade man accused of strangling a teenage girl and leaving her body in his backyard is being held without bond after appearing in court Wednesday.
Miami-Dade deputies were called to the 10700 block of NE 2nd Ave. around 9 p.m. Monday after reports of an unresponsive female in the backyard.
The woman who lives at the home took deputies to her son, 20-year-old Dominique Domond, who showed them where the teen's body was near the back door.
The 17-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
According to Domond's mother, her son initially claimed he had been attacked inside the house by an unknown man and teen but managed to fight them off, pushing the teen out the back door. However, detectives said Domond gave conflicting statements before ultimately confessing.
"The defendant then confessed to investigators that he and the victim were involved in a physical altercation where he choked the victim with his bare hands," the arrest report states.
"The defendant then picked up the victim's lifeless body and disposed of it by throwing it in the rear yard of the residence."
Victim's family speaks out
The victim's father told CBS News Miami he was blindsided by the news.
"I thought she was living in North Carolina. I never knew she had a boyfriend," he said. "Right now, I am trying to process everything. We need our privacy."
Stephanie Tima, the teen's aunt, described her niece as a kind and compassionate young woman.
"She had a heartfelt soul and she was never mean to anybody," Tima said, sharing photos of her with the news station. "She was always there for anybody that needed to listen. She was always a person that was grateful to learn everything."
Fighting back tears, Tima struggled to comprehend the loss.
"I felt like my heart was over," she said. "She was only 17 years old. Why would anyone want to take a life like that?"
Court appearance, charges
Domond appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer on Wednesday, where she formally informed him of his charge.
"Mr. Domond, you were arrested for one count of second-degree murder. That is a crime punishable by life in prison if you are found guilty," Glazer said. "I will appoint a public defender. There's probable cause for the charge of second-degree murder."
Glazer ordered Domond to be held without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
Authorities urge victims to seek help
Miami-Dade Sheriff's Detective Luis Sierra called the case a tragic example of domestic violence.
"This is very sad. We have a situation involving the death of a 17-year-old female that was involved in an altercation with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, she is not with us anymore. Our thoughts go out to her family," Sierra said.
He urged anyone experiencing domestic violence to seek help before situations escalate.
"There are a lot of resources out there for you. You can remain anonymous. Even if you have a friend who is involved in a violent situation, please call the police. We are here to help and will try to avoid these situations," he said.
