Exclusive: Surveillance Video Key To State's Case Vs. Coral Springs Murder Suspect
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CORAL SPRINGS (CBSMiami) – A three and a half minute surveillance video complied by the Coral Springs Police Department is a crucial part of the state's murder case against Enrique Macotela.
Macotela is accused of murdering Magdalena Weich, his girlfriend and the mother of his 5-year-old son.
Coral Springs police believe the surveillance video shows Macotela in the act of disposing of Weich's body in a wooded area in the early morning hours of August 19.
Detectives compiled video from a dozen cameras at different businesses, homes and buses that they say shows Macotela ending up at a spot along Sample Road with his hazards on leaving the body of Magdalena Weich in the woods.
Her body would be found a day later after Macotela reported her missing.
According to the arrest report, the surveillance cameras "depict a minivan that appears to match the physical characteristics of Macotela's minivan in all identifiable areas as the minivan traveled from Macotela's townhome complex to the exact location Magdalena's body was discovered and then back to Macotela's complex."
Police say they searched for days and saw no other minivan in the Parkside Townhomes complex, where the couple lived.
Crime scene photos investigators combed through Macotela's minivan, the couple's home, her vehicle, his storage unit and numerous electronics.
Police say on Macotela's phone they found evidence that he took photos of this same wooded area in the months before Weich's disappearance and murder.
"Detectives discovered multiple digital photographs that contained geographical location data that indicated the photographs were taken within the past three months, inside a wooded area known as the Tall Cypress Natural Area," according to the arrest report. That spot is located along the 7000 block of west Sample Road
Crime scene photos also show investigators looked at small cuts on Macotela's knuckles and chest cuts that police believe are "consistent with an injury caused by the fingernail of another person," the arrest report reads.
At one point in his interview with police, investigators say Macotela told detectives "just kill me."
Police write in the arrest report that the Broward County Medical Examiner was unable to determine how Weich died, stating in part, "…the circumstances and investigative findings are highly suspicious for a violent death."
The evidence released by prosecutors also sheds light on who Weich was.
By all accounts she was a devoted mother to the couple's son and her co-workers at this Tamarac medical office told police she was an outstanding employee and person.
"An excellent employee," one of her bosses at a medical billing company told Coral Springs Police, in the days after Weich disappeared. "Extremely motivated. Great team player. An extremely positive person."
Police say the couple's neighbors told detectives they heard heated arguments from the couple's townhouse in the days before Weich vanished.
Her co-workers said Macotela kept a close eye on Weich and he may have strayed from their relationship.
"He was overprotective sometimes, a little controlling," one co-worker told police. "That even though they had two vehicles sometimes he would have to bring her to work and pick her up to work to make sure she was at work."
Another co-worker told police, "She said, 'I think Enrique's having an affair.' I said, 'Why? Why would you say that?' She said, 'This lady keeps calling his phone and sending pictures and messages.'"
Co-workers also said Weich told them she was upset that Macotela did not play an active role in their son's life.
"Enrique wasn't cooperating with her as far as watching Matthew," a co-worker said.
In the days after Weich disappeared, while police built their case against Macotela, CBS4 News asked him about Weich's death.
"It's so hard for me this," Macotela said. "I love her. I still love her forever."
Another co-worker said that the day after Weich disappeared, Macotela came to the office. She had a point-blank question for him.
"I said, 'Enrique, did you have a fight with Magdalena?' 'No, no, no but you know how she can be stubborn,'" the co-worker told police.
CBS4 called Macotela's attorney for comment on the videos and police photos. We did not hear back from him.
Macotela is being held in the Broward County Jail without bond on a charge of murder.
