Man bikes to Pines hospital with ‘stab wounds.’ He now faces murder charges, cops say
A Hialeah man who cycled six miles to a Pembroke Pines hospital with alleged “stab wounds” is facing two murder charges for the killing of his wife and stepson, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives say Jose Vidal, 79, stabbed his wife and stepson to death on Saturday, April 18, inside their Antigua at Country Club of Miami townhouse, his arrest report shows.
Vidal’s stepson had accused the 79-year-old of stealing “a large amount of money” from him and evicted Vidal and his belongings from the home in the 17500 block of NW 67th Place in Miami Gardens around noon the same day, prompting an argument, per MDSO.
It wasn’t until April 20 — two days later — that Vidal called 911, then he rode his bike to Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, telling staff that he’d been stabbed and knocked unconscious by two men before waking to find his wife and stepson dead, the report says.
He was transferred to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, where staff determined he only had a superficial cut to his abdomen and showed no signs of a head injury.
Investigators say he stopped at a gas station 2 miles from his home and purchased lottery tickets before heading to the Pembroke Pines hospital.
Per MDSO, surveillance video from the townhome’s complex showed Vidal wearing sandals that matched bloody footprints found near the victims’ bodies. Footage also did not show any suspects matching the 79-year-old’s description.
Vidal was arrested on April 24 at his Miami Gardens home and booked into the Turner Guilford-Knight Correction Center, where he was being held without bond as of April 27.
When interviewed by detectives, Vidal confirmed he fought with his stepson over “stealing money” and that he was being kicked out of the townhome.
He faces two charges of second-degree murder with a weapon. Court records show he has an arraignment hearing scheduled for May 15.
His attorney, Daniela Andrea Torrealba, did not respond to the Pembroke Pines News’ request for comment on April 27.
