Prosecutors indicate they will seek the death penalty against a Miami Gardens man accused in the Lehigh Acres stabbing death of his former girlfriend.<\/p>\n
Leosbey Cuesta de Armas, 31, who was arrested Nov. 9 in Polk County after he fled Lehigh Acres following the slaying, faces one count of capital first-degree murder and one count of first-degree armed burglary in the brutal stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend, Zenaida Alvarez, 39, of Hialeah.<\/p>\n
A Lee County grand jury on Dec. 9 returned an indictment against Cuesta de Armas for capital first-degree murder.<\/p>\n
Court records show state prosecutors on Jan. 20 filed their intent to seek the capital punishment against Cuesta de Armas. Details about the state’s notice remained locked in court records by publication.<\/p>\n
During Cuesta de Armas’ pretrial detention hearing<\/a>, a Lee County sheriff’s detective said Alvarez and her two children visited a friend in Lehigh Acres. Cuesta de Armas had visited at the home when he dated Alvarez. A resident said she had known Cuesta de Armas for about five months.<\/p>\n The victim’s children were in bedrooms while the woman and two others put up Christmas decorations in the living room, authorities said.<\/p>\n After several hours, a resident went to get something from the pantry and noticed the door seemed stuck. When she looked through the small opening, she saw Cuesta de Armas.<\/p>\n Authorities said evidence indicates Cuesta de Armas had been inside the home for about two hours before he launched an attack.<\/p>\n Cuesta de Armas glared at the resident as he held a knife, ran past the resident and attacked Alvarez, authorities said. When she collapsed, Cuesta de Armas got on top of her and continued to stab her.<\/p>\n Once Cuesta de Armas done, he ran from the home and to his pickup. Authorities could not find him that evening.<\/p>\n Cuesta de Armas saw law enforcement approaching on Nov. 9, and led them on a pursuit through Hardee County into Polk\u00a0County.<\/p>\n Local authorities, along with Florida Highway Patrol, took Cuesta de Armas into custody after he crashed. Authorities recovered a knife they believe he used.<\/p>\n Cuesta de Armas has remained at the Lee County Jail without bond since his arrest.<\/p>\n His next court hearing is a March 17 case management conference.<\/p>\n Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking\/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads\u00a0@tomasfrobeltran<\/a>, Instagram\u00a0@tomasfrobeltran<\/a>, Facebook\u00a0@tomasrodrigueznews<\/a>\u00a0and Bluesky\u00a0@tomasfrodriguez<\/a>.<\/p>\n Please support Southwest Florida community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to\u00a0The News-Press<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Naples Daily News<\/a>; download the free\u00a0News-Press<\/a>\u00a0or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hialeah man will face death penalty in deadly Lehigh Acres stabbing<\/a><\/p>\n