Miami-Dade Teen Charged In Father's Murder

MIAMI, FL — A teenage girl, days away from celebrating her 18th birthday, has been charged along with her boyfriend in connection with the murder of her father. Eveline Veronica Gainza was charged as an accessory after the fact and attempting to help hide her father's body while 18-year-old Demar Turruellas was charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. The charges were announced Tuesday.

Miami-Dade police discovered the decomposing body of 63-year-old Evelio Federico Gainza inside his home in the 16100 block of SW 141 Avenue early Thursday morning, according to Miami-Dade police. The grim discovery was made shortly after 4 a.m.

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Court documents said that the body had been left in the home since Monday night. Turruellas allegedly fired the fatal shots that killed Gainza, who had a troubled relationship with his daughter, according to Miami-Dade police.

Gainza's daughter, who lives with her mother about 10 miles away, allegedly went to her father's home to pick up her belongings then snuck out to pick up her boyfriend back at her mother's house in her father's Mercedes. The father did not approve of her boyfriend, according to court documents.

"Both of them then returned to the victim's home," court documents saidd of the couple. "Upon their return, the victim was still on the second floor of the residence. The defendant's boyfriend went upstairs and while unprovoked, he discharged a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun multiple times at the victim, striking him in the back."

Court documents said the girl and her boyfriend dragged the body to the master bathroom, which was under construction, and covered it with towels and blankets.

The girl allegedly picked up shell casings and tried to clean "blood evidence" with bleach and paper towels.

"The defendant and her boyfriend then traveled to an unknown location near Homestead, where they gave the handgun to an acquaintance. The defendant's boyfriend later reacquired the murder weapon from his acquaintance."

The girl allegedly told one person that she dropped her father off at the airport for a flight to Cuba.

"The victim's body remained inside the residence until it was discovered on Sept. 27, 2018 in early stages of decomposition," according to the court documents.

The younger Gainza was taken into custody at her mother's residence.

"Post Miranda warnings, the defendant confessed to the aforementioned crimes and was subsequently arrested," court documents said.

Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department said that the father's body was found after a relative called police to check on Gainza. "When uniform patrol officers arrived, they found a broken rear glass door. Officers entered the residence and conducted a cursory search, discovering a deceased person," according to Cowart.

To report a tip, contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477. Alternatively, visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select “Give a Tip” or text "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.

Photo of Eveline Veronica Gainza courtesy Miami-Dade Police Department