A Miami man confessed to killing a woman after she "disrespectfully" texted him over the weekend that she had cheated on him with another man, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.
Yulexis Rodriguez, 40, was arrested on charges of:
- First-degree murder
- Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
- Armed burglary
- First-degree arson
- False imprisonment
Authorities say he choked his victim, Lianet Denis, and hit her with "an unknown object."
Rodriguez allegedly told investigators he was so upset with Denis that he bought a gas can in Miami, filled it and drove it to Palm Beach County, where he confronted Denis, according to the report.
Deputies were called to a fire at the home on Belvedere Road about 12:45 a.m. When deputies arrived, they found three vehicles on fire next to the burning home.
Denis, 22, was pulled from the home by firefighters and pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies said they detained Rodriguez after they saw him escaping through a broken window in the mobile home.
After the fire was extinguished, deputies found a large amount of blood on the inside the home. They also found a bloody hand print and a gardening hoe under the bed.
Rodriguez allegedly told deputies he was upset with Denis after she left him for another man. However, Rodriguez said he was even angrier after she sent him a text message that said, "Are you dumb or something I cheated on you when we lived in Cuba also."
Investigators said Denis had "extensive facial trauma, head trauma, excessive swelling to the face, head and neck area, coupled with defensive wounds on both her arms."
Rodriguez was being held without bond at the main Palm Beach County jail.