Police: Uncle Accused Of Killing Niece Had Been Having Secret 2-Year Affair With Victim
SOUTH MIAMI-DADE (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade police have made an arrest in connection to the shooting of a woman Friday morning.
Police said Stephen Myers, who is married to the victim's aunt, had been having a secret sexual relationship with the victim for the past two years.
Police said Myers observed the victim, 21-year-old Winnie Mendoza, as she was driving home and followed her there.
As Mendoza exited her car, Myers exited his truck with a firearm and demanded to know where she had been all night, police said.
The arrest report says Myers then shot Mendoza multiple times following a heated argument.
Myers then fled the scene and confessed to his wife that he had shot her niece, police said.
Myers provided police with a full confession about the shooting, according to the arrest report.
Mendoza's uncle is speaking out, saying the victim was a "good girl who worked 2 jobs."
Mendoza was found dead on a driveway near SW 152nd Avenue and 307th Street after reports of shots being fired.
Mendoza's uncle tells CBS4's Peter D'Oench that Winnie worked in the pharmacy of a Publix.
A loved one discovered her body.
"Her mother in law found her by the front gate," said her uncle Angel Calderon, who added he just doesn't understand why this happened.
Calderon said Mendoza was studying to become a pharmacist.
Earlier in the day, family members said she was inside the house when she heard a knock at the door and she went outside and was shot twice in the upper torso.
"We feel real bad right now. We feel real bad about what happened. She was a very good person. I don't know why anyone would've done this. I have a lotta questions. I just don't understand this," Calderon said grieving. "She was a student and she also worked two jobs and we were all looking forward to her birthday coming up next month in August. All I know now is that the police called me when I was in work at Publix and they said my niece have been shot. I hope they find whoever did this. This is terrible."
Police had recovered a gun.
"I can't tell you anything about that person or say if my niece had a boyfriend or say anything at all. You probably know more than we do. We are waiting for the details," said Calderon.
He described her as very good girl.
"She don't drink. She don't do nothing. That's all I can tell you. She was a very good girl."
Standing beside him, Winnie's aunt Ana shed tears.
"We do not know what happened but it is really scary. My mother was inside the house when it happened. Now we need to find out from police what happened to my niece."
