A grim discovery in a tranquil Miami neighborhood has left residents stunned after police uncovered the body of an adult male in a residential trash bin. According to CBS News Miami, the shocking find occurred in the 8400 block of SW 161st Place. Miami-Dade police responded to the scene shortly before 5 p.m., following a report by a Department of Solid Waste garbage collector.
The worker, on a regular trash collection route, was startled to see a corpse tumbling into his truck outside a home. "Once the driver of this truck (Solid Waste) observed what appeared to be the body, he got out and verified it was indeed a deceased person... preliminary findings indicate this was a suicide, an investigation is being conducted and is in its preliminary stages, and still ongoing," Miami-Dade police Detective Andre Martin told CBS News Miami. The body was confirmed to have suffered an apparent gunshot wound, stirring speculations of a sinister act.
The deceased has been identified as 54-year-old Armando Benavides. Mere days before his body was found, Benavides reportedly shot his ex-wife in the leg, as confirmed by NBC Miami. His ex-wife sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover. The linkage between these events remains under investigation by the Miami-Dade Police.
A local resident, overwhelmed by the event, expressed their dismay to reporters. "To me is shocking seeing things like this happening here," they told CBS News Miami from their home near the scene. The homeowner where the body was discovered relayed their disbelief. "The first thing I thought was that someone killed that person and threw the body in our trash can, but police are not confirming that, we're speechless," said the homeowner in an interview with the same outlet.
While Miami-Dade detectives continue piecing together this puzzling case, the community remains on edge. The police have not established any connection between Benavides and the residence where his lifeless form emerged from the darkness of a refuse container into the light of day. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
