José Vidal, a 79-year-old man, was taken into custody last Friday, facing two charges of second-degree murder with a weapon. The charges come after his wife and stepson were discovered stabbed to death inside their apartment in northwest Miami-Dade County, as reported by authorities.
The tragic events unfolded on April 18 at the Antigua at Country Club of Miami residential complex, located in the 17500 block of Northwest 67th Place.
Officers from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office found the victims with stab wounds in various locations within the apartment, according to local media reports.
The Unsettling Behavior of José Vidal
From the onset, Vidal's actions following the incident raised suspicions among investigators.
On April 20, two days after the murders, the suspect rode a bicycle over six miles from his apartment to Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, arriving with a minor abdominal wound.
At the hospital, his accounts of the incident were inconsistent. He initially claimed that on April 19, he returned to his apartment to find the door ajar and was attacked by two men who rendered him unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness the next day, he allegedly discovered his wife and stepson dead.
In another version, he described his alleged assailants as two Black men. He mentioned calling 911 but decided not to wait for emergency services, opting instead to bike to the hospital.
Inconsistencies and Physical Evidence
Medical staff determined that Vidal only had a superficial abdominal cut and no head injuries, contradicting his story of being unconscious for hours.
Further undermining his alibi, investigators found dried blood shoe prints near the bodies and throughout the apartment. These matched sandals found in the kitchen, which had been washed but still bore traces of blood.
Surveillance footage from the complex captured Vidal wearing that footwear. Additionally, security cameras showed him making multiple trips to a nearby dumpster with filled bags on April 18, without any sighting of individuals matching the description of his alleged attackers.
The Financial Dispute
Another critical detail noted by investigators: surveillance revealed him stopping at a gas station to buy lottery tickets during his bike ride to the hospital, two days after the murders.
The arrest report indicates that the altercation stemmed from Vidal allegedly stealing a substantial sum of money. His stepson had informed relatives on April 18 of his intention to evict Vidal from their home.
Investigators concluded that the entire incident "originated from a dispute over money and the stepson's decision to remove him from the household." During Friday's interrogation, Vidal confessed to arguing with his stepson over the stolen money and confirmed he was being evicted.
Vidal appeared before a judge on Saturday, who ordered him held without bond. Local10 News identified the suspect as being originally from Spain.
This case echoes other instances of fatal domestic violence within Florida's Hispanic community, such as the November 2025 homicide in Hialeah where a Cuban woman was killed by her husband, or the February conviction of a Cuban man sentenced to 50 years for murdering his partner in Florida.
In Florida, second-degree murder is a first-degree felony with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. For a 79-year-old defendant, any significant sentence effectively amounts to a life sentence.
Miami-Dade County holds the highest domestic violence rates in Florida, with emergency calls for domestic disputes rising over 12% in 2026 compared to the previous year.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Miami-Dade Homicide Case
What charges is José Vidal facing?
José Vidal is charged with two counts of second-degree murder with a weapon in connection to the deaths of his wife and stepson.
What inconsistencies were found in Vidal's story?
Vidal's story had several inconsistencies, including conflicting accounts of the incident, lack of physical injuries supporting his claim of being unconscious, and surveillance evidence contradicting his version.
What motive did investigators identify for the crime?
Investigators identified a financial dispute as the motive, with Vidal allegedly having stolen a significant amount of money and his stepson planning to evict him from the home.