Hialeah mother and son told cops her ex tried to kidnap her. They’re charged with murder
A Hialeah mother and son told police the mother’s estranged husband barged into their home, punched both of them and dragged the mother toward his car before the son stabbed him to death.
Hialeah police say much of what Yunet Enriquez and Jason Gonzalez told them about Juan Jose Mesa’s death on June 29 was a lie. That’s why each is charged with second-degree murder and armed burglary.
Gonzalez, 17, is being charged as an adult. He and his mother, 39, have pleaded not guilty.
According to the arrest reports, Hialeah police went to Enriquez’s house around 7:26 a.m. on a burglary-battery call. Enriquez told them Mesa, whom she’s in the process of divorcing, came into her house without permission and punched her and Gonzalez.
Meanwhile, the report said, almost a mile and a half away near the corner of West 20th Avenue and 35th Street, detectives found a man’s body next to a car, coated in blood.
After concluding the two scenes were linked, detectives returned to talk to Gonzalez and Enriquez. Gonzalez described being pulled out of bed by the sounds of Mesa battering his mother. But, even after he joined the battle, he said they couldn’t get Mesa out of the home.
Gonzalez left the fight to pick up weaponry in the kitchen, he said. By the time he returned with a knife, he said, Mesa was dragging Enriquez toward his car in a bear hug. Gonzalez jumped back in to save his mother, stabbing Mesa as he got in the car. Mesa threw the car into reverse, knocking down Gonzalez and Enriquez.
That was Gonzalez’s story, confirmed by Enriquez, the reports said. It didn’t lack details.
Surveillance video from a nearby building said it lacked truth.
On the video, described in the arrest report and obtained by WPLG-Channel 10, Mesa and Enriquez can be seen outside the apartment building talking. Mesa reaches to hug Enriquez and she pushes his hands away, slides from his reach and heads around the corner, out of camera view. Mesa follows her.
About 23 seconds later, Mesa’s running for his car. As he appears to try to unlock his door, Enriquez catches up to him. He pushes her back and gets the door open. Despite Enriquez’s efforts to prevent Mesa from closing the door, he gets in the car as Gonzalez arrives with the knife and closes the door.
Enriquez opens the door and Gonzalez appears to stab Mesa several times as Mesa puts the car in reverse.
The reports say Gonzalez admitted lying about what happened in the fight and Enriquez admitted she invited Mesa into her house to talk about their separation and his infidelity.
This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 4:01 PM.
