Ohio Fugitive Sought In Miami Motel Murder
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The search continues for a fugitive from Ohio, along with his wife and her daughter, after a man was found dead at a Miami motel where they were staying.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has also activated a missing child alert for the missing 7-year-old girl. Authorities in Ohio think she could be in danger because her mother and step-father have a history of drug abuse.
The body of Joseph Moniz was found a in pool of blood Saturday morning in a room at the Sunshine Inn Motel off the 4800 block of West Flagler Street.
CBS4's Peter D'Oench says a new incident report from Miami Police sheds new details on the discovery of Moniz's body.
The report says a hotel employee had stopped at the motel room to collect rent from the Ohio family and discovered Moniz and learned that the family had taken off.
It is not known what Moniz was doing in that room. That's when the motel employee contacted police.
"It was determined that the male that was found inside of the motel room was, in fact, killed," said Miami Police Lt. Carlos Castellanos.
CLICK HERE to watch Peter D'Oench's report
One woman who lives nearby described a bloody scene inside.
"A person was found, naked. There was blood in the room," said Dayanelis Vazquez in Spanish.
Moniz has an arrest record which includes cocaine possession, grand theft and possession of marijuana. Records show he has been arrested 10 times in the past 10 years, including three times for cocaine possession.
Police have not said why they think Moniz's murder is linked to Michael Evans, 30, who is wanted for escaping and eluding police in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
Evans skipped town while under house arrest while awaiting trial for allegedly attacking a man with a hammer. A relative said Evans cut his ankle monitor and took off with his wife and step daughter.
His wife Kristy, 34, and her daughter, 7-year-old daughter Jala Barnett, were reported missing and endangered in Ohio on May 7th.
Police believe Evans and his family may be traveling in a stolen 2005 blue Audi A4 convertible with FL license tag BDK6156.
They also say the couple had been traveling in dark blue, 2001 Ford Escort with an Ohio tag of FUT 40688.
Anyone with information should call Miami Police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477). There's a reward of up to $3,000.
