Man Who Killed Mother Before Son Facing Charges

The Hialeah man accused of killing a woman in front of their 4-year-old child is facing murder charges while the baby's great grandmother has been awarded custody.

Hialeah has dealt with three recent high profile cases of domestic abuse. Police said that on December 1st Yoanys Martinez Avila, a mother of two, was strangled to death by her husband Jose Antonio Pupo Gonzalez while their son watched.

The tragic death of Avila prompted city officials to remind the public there is a special program designed to help victims of domestic abuse before it's too late.

Hialeah Police and the city's mayor are banding together to address a serious problem: domestic violence.

Detectives say these cases usually have one frightening common denominator.

"The victims are suffering these crimes without reporting it to the police," said Chief Mark N. Overton of the Hialeah Police Department.

Mayor Julio Robaina said support staff for domestic violence cases is available.

"We have the personnel and the professionals that deal with victims on a daily basis," he said. "We have the support staff that deals with all the agencies throughout this county and state to provide services at all levels.

But it is too late for Avila, whose friends and relatives were aware of her plight. After her murder detectives spotted Gonzalez walking towards the Palmetto Expressway. He ran across traffic in an attempt to get away, but was struck by a mini-van. He survived-- fighting police as he was taken into custody.

The police department released a detailed timeline of what happened on Wednesday, including Gonzalez calling a coworker saying he killed his wife and later finding a suicide note.

Authorities said Avila never reported being abused by her husband but family and friends knew of the violence.

Police said breaking the silence could have saved her life and could save others.

"Please call the police and initiate that process because it can prevent tragedies like this," Overton said.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez is in police custody at Jackson Memorial Hospital. No charges have been filed.