A Florida man’s calculated deception—blaming ICE for his girlfriend’s disappearance—unraveled when cell phone data and surveillance evidence revealed he murdered her and dumped her body in a canal.
Story Overview
- Saul Garcia Gonzalez, 40, charged with second-degree murder in the death of girlfriend Nerida Martel, 37, found shot in a Miami-Dade canal on October 11, 2025
- Gonzalez falsely told associates that Martel may have been detained by ICE, a claim contradicted by cell phone location data placing his phone at the crime scene
- Evidence reveals a pattern of domestic abuse, with prior police involvement in May 2025 and Martel actively seeking to leave the relationship
- Gonzalez denied bail and remains in custody; investigation demonstrates how modern forensic evidence exposes deliberate misdirection by suspects
Deception Exposed by Technology
When Nerida Martel vanished on October 6, 2025, Saul Garcia Gonzalez crafted a narrative designed to deflect suspicion. He told associates that Martel might have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This claim proved instrumental in his undoing. Investigators checked ICE detention records and found no record of Martel. Meanwhile, cell phone location data revealed a damning timeline: on the day Gonzalez claimed to last see Martel, his phone traveled to the canal where her body would later be discovered, less than half a mile from their home.
The evidence mounted quickly. Surveillance video showed Gonzalez’s car driving near the canal on October 11, the day Martel’s body was recovered from the 168th canal. A medical examiner determined she died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Gonzalez’s conflicting accounts—first claiming he dropped Martel at home, then telling others he left her at a bus stop—further undermined his credibility. On November 26, 2025, he was formally charged with second-degree murder. By November 27, he appeared in court and was denied bail.
Domestic Violence Escalation Pattern
Court records and investigator interviews reveal a relationship marked by escalating tension and abuse. In May 2025, police responded to a domestic disturbance call at their shared home after a woman was heard screaming for help while a man yelled in the background. Officers could not locate the distressed woman upon arrival.
Martel’s family reported to Miami-Dade sheriff deputies that Gonzalez had been verbally abusive toward her. Most critically, investigators learned that Martel was actively seeking an exit strategy, looking for alternative housing to escape with their two-year-old daughter.
This pattern aligns with established domestic violence research: victims face heightened danger when attempting to leave abusive relationships. Martel’s employment records corroborated the timeline—she was expected at work on October 6 but never arrived, immediately flagging her absence as unusual. Her employer’s concern helped trigger the missing person investigation that would ultimately expose Gonzalez’s lies and lead to his arrest.
A Child Left Behind
The couple’s two-year-old daughter now faces an uncertain future, orphaned by her mother’s murder and separated from her father by his incarceration. The child has been placed in the welfare system, requiring long-term custody arrangements and psychological support.
This tragic outcome underscores the collateral damage inflicted by domestic violence—innocent children paying the price for an adult’s violent choices and subsequent deception.
The case demonstrates how modern investigative tools—particularly cell phone location data and surveillance footage—have fundamentally altered criminal investigations. Gonzalez’s attempt to weaponize immigration enforcement narratives as a smokescreen for murder ultimately failed because physical evidence told a different story. His conviction, when it comes, will rest on facts, not fiction.
Sources:
Florida Man Charged With Girlfriend’s Murder After Telling Friend She Might Have Been Taken by ICE
