Background: The home in Riverview, Fla., where Hiojaira Mercedes Velez-Bonilla was allegedly murdered (WTVT). Insets (left to right): Andre Gerhardt and Giselle Santiago-Bonilla (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department).
In a significant development in the 2025 murder case of a Florida woman, authorities have apprehended a third suspect, building on recent legal proceedings involving other individuals tied to the crime.
Earlier this year, 38-year-old Giselle Santiago-Bonilla admitted guilt to several charges, including accessory after the fact, witness tampering, evidence tampering, and unlawfully moving a dead body. These charges stem from the gruesome stabbing of her cousin, 41-year-old Hiojaira Mercedes Velez-Bonilla. According to reports from Law&Crime, the fatal incident allegedly involved Santiago-Bonilla’s boyfriend, 43-year-old Arnaldo Cintron, and was sparked by a dispute over household responsibilities and financial matters.
Velez-Bonilla’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Elga Davis II, reportedly attempted to flee the scene, only to be stopped by Santiago-Bonilla. Following the murder, Davis was coerced into a morbid disguise, forced to don Velez-Bonilla’s wig and dress as he disposed of her body.
The narrative took another turn on February 26th when the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office disclosed the arrest of a third suspect, 33-year-old Andre Gerhardt. Previously known only by the alias “Tarzan,” Gerhardt is alleged to have assisted Cintron and Santiago-Bonilla in the disposal of Velez-Bonilla’s body. He faces charges including unlawfully moving a dead body, possessing a concealed weapon as a felon, accessory after the fact, and burglary.
Insight into the crime’s chilling details was provided during a pretrial detention hearing for Cintron. Davis, offering crucial testimony, recounted how Cintron and Santiago-Bonilla threatened him, suggesting he would be their next victim unless he aided in covering up the murder.
The aftermath of the crime saw the trio spending approximately four hours erasing any trace of the heinous act. Ultimately, Velez-Bonilla’s remains were forced into a cardboard box, wrapped in black mesh. Davis, recounting the harrowing experience, revealed he complied with their demands under duress, ensuring his girlfriend’s body would fit into the makeshift coffin.
Fearing for his life, he then complied with the demand by Cintron and Santiago-Bonilla to wear one of his dead girlfriend’s wigs and one of her long dresses while he drove them all and the body to the apartment of a man known as “Tarzan.”
Before formalizing her plea deal, Santiago-Bonilla identified Gerhardt as “Tarzan” and confirmed that he assisted in disposing of Velez-Bonilla’s body, according to court documents. Gerhardt told police after he was arrested on Feb. 24 that he assisted in helping Cintron, Santiago-Bonilla, and Davis remove the box containing the body from the car and drag it out into the mangroves. Police said he knew what was inside the box, and he admitted that he never contacted law enforcement.
Cintron remains in custody at the Falkenburg Road Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 18, the same day Gerhardt is scheduled to appear in court.
Santiago-Bonilla is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29.
