A 21-year-old Florida man is facing a murder charge after he allegedly shot and killed his 17-year-old girlfriend, then lied to his mother and the police about masked men invading his home and committing the crime, as per Law and Crime on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
Saul Garcia Macias was arrested on Wednesday and charged with one count of homicide — dangerous depraved murder without premeditation in the death of Sofia Lugo, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a report of a suspicious death at a residence in Ocala, about 80 miles northwest of Orlando, around 12:55 a.m. on Dec. 10.
They found Lugo’s body on the floor in her bedroom, with a gunshot wound to her throat. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lugo had a “freshly done” tattoo on her right arm that said “Saul,” the sheriff’s office said.
Garcia Macias’ mother, who lived at the same residence, told deputies that she had not seen her son since she found Lugo’s body.
She initially said she heard a “thump” in the night and thought it was her cat, but later admitted that her son had woken her up and told her that masked men had killed his girlfriend.
Garcia Macias then fled the scene, leaving his mother to call 911. She also said that her boyfriend, who was at the home, heard Garcia Macias say that he had done something to Lugo.
The sheriff’s office launched a search for Garcia Macias, who remained at large for 17 days.
On Dec. 27, he called the sheriff’s office from a local store and said he wanted to speak with deputies, but did not know why they were looking for him.
He claimed that he had been “lost in the woods” since the night of the murder and had no idea what had happened to his girlfriend.
He said he had heard a gunshot while he was in the bathroom and found Lugo dead when he came out. He said he ran away because he was scared.
Deputies picked him up from the store and took him to the sheriff’s office, where he was interviewed and arrested.
He is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and more charges may be filed.
Lugo’s family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help with her funeral expenses. They described her as a “beautiful soul” who had a bright future ahead of her.
“She was a very smart girl who had dreams of becoming a nurse,” the page reads. “She was loved by many and will be missed by all.”
