A third suspect has been arrested in the Aug. 15, 2025 killing of 42-year-old Hiojaira Velez-Bonilla in Riverview. Andre Lamont Gerhardt, 33, was taken into custody on Tuesday and is accused of helping transport and dispose of her body, authorities said. The arrest is the latest turn in an investigation that began when deputies recovered a body near Weedon Island Preserve last summer.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Gerhardt "faces multiple charges including accessory after the fact" and that he was arrested on Tuesday. In an update posted to X, Sheriff Chad Chronister wrote, "No matter how long it takes, we will not stop working until justice is served," according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
UPDATE: Third suspect arrested in 2025 Riverview homicide — Andre Lamont Gerhardt, 33, is accused of assisting in transporting and disposing of the victim's body. Faces multiple charges including accessory after the fact. https://x.com/i/status/2027402914071794043
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) February 27, 2026
How investigators say the killing unfolded
Court documents and local reporting indicate investigators believe the killing began with a dispute inside a Riverview home that spiraled into violence. A witness told detectives the victim was stabbed during an argument, then moved into a vehicle and dumped near the Gandy Bridge within the Weedon Island Preserve. Those details were reported by WFLA.
Charges and next steps
In August 2025 investigators arrested two people - Arnaldo Cintron and Giselle Santiago Bonilla - and charged them in connection with the killing. Cintron faces a second-degree murder count, while authorities say Giselle Bonilla was charged with tampering and as an accessory after the fact. The sheriff's office previously laid out those charges in a case update from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Legal implications
Under Florida law the offense of "accessory after the fact" is described in Florida Statute 777.03 and is charged based on the severity of the underlying felony, with penalties that track the ranking of that felony. Those statutory guidelines shape how prosecutors may charge anyone accused of helping a suspect avoid detection or dispose of evidence. Florida Senate.
What happens next
The investigation remains active and detectives are still asking anyone with information to come forward. Court dates and booking details for Gerhardt were not immediately available, and authorities say they will release additional updates as the case moves through the system, according to earlier coverage of the Riverview homicide.
