A 44-year-old man is behind bars after what deputies describe as a violent domestic dispute in North Fort Myers that left a woman dead Thursday evening. Lee County deputies found the woman in a home in the 16000 block of Shelby Lane with multiple puncture wounds and deep cuts, and medics pronounced her dead at the scene. K9 teams later tracked the suspect into nearby woods, where deputies arrested him on a charge of second-degree murder.
Scene and response
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the 16000 block of Shelby Lane on Thursday, and the agency’s Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene. The sheriff’s office said the area was quickly contained and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Suspect and charges
Local coverage identified the suspect as 44-year-old Alain Wilfredo Samon Cuadra and reported that witnesses saw him with the woman both before and during the attack. Witnesses also told investigators that he briefly took off in a white work van. As reported by the Tampa Free Press, Sheriff Carmine Marceno called the incident "brutal, unacceptable violence" and said it would not be tolerated in Lee County.
What investigators say
According to Gulf Coast News, the victim was found unresponsive with several lacerations and puncture wounds, and witnesses told detectives the two lived together. The outlet reports that the suspect fled in a white work van before K9 teams followed his trail into a wooded area. Body-camera footage reviewed by Gulf Coast News shows deputies finding him next to a trailer, where he surrendered without further incident. Gulf Coast News also notes that Samon Cuadra was booked on a charge of second-degree murder and is being held at the Lee County Jail while detectives continue their investigation.
Legal next steps
Prosecutors are expected to review the findings from the Major Crimes Unit before deciding whether to pursue any additional charges. As the Tampa Free Press reports, the Major Crimes Unit is working with the State Attorney’s Office to finalize the case. Under Florida law, second-degree murder is defined as the unlawful killing "perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life," and is a first-degree felony punishable up to life in prison, according to Florida Statutes §782.04.
How to help
Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit are still gathering information and are asking the public for help. Anyone with tips, video, or additional details is urged to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 239-477-1000, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
