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Former M.M.A. Fighter Returns to U.S. to Face Charges in 2011 Killing Former M.M.A. Fighter Returns to U.S. to Face Charges in 2011 Killing
(about 2 hours later)
On June 1, 2011, officers with the Miami-Dade Police Department went to investigate a brush fire in a desolate area near the Everglades. Instead, they found a murder.On June 1, 2011, officers with the Miami-Dade Police Department went to investigate a brush fire in a desolate area near the Everglades. Instead, they found a murder.
The burned body of a man whose hands were tied behind his back lay near a dirt road, according to an affidavit. He had a slit throat, blunt-force injuries and burns to his pelvic area. He was later identified as Camilo Salazar, a 43-year-old man whose wife had reported him missing.The burned body of a man whose hands were tied behind his back lay near a dirt road, according to an affidavit. He had a slit throat, blunt-force injuries and burns to his pelvic area. He was later identified as Camilo Salazar, a 43-year-old man whose wife had reported him missing.
When investigators examined his car, a fingerprint led them to Ariel Gandulla, a mixed martial arts fighter, the affidavit said.When investigators examined his car, a fingerprint led them to Ariel Gandulla, a mixed martial arts fighter, the affidavit said.
This week, Mr. Gandulla, 51, returned to Miami as a suspect in the killing of Mr. Salazar after spending several years in Canada. The state attorney said the case resembles the plot of a “bad Hollywood movie”: Another fighter, a promoter and a supermarket magnate are also suspects; there have been escapes to Spain and Canada; and an affair led to a fatal act of revenge, according to affidavits. This week, Mr. Gandulla, 51, returned to Miami as a suspect in the killing of Mr. Salazar after spending several years in Canada. The state attorney said the case resembled the plot of a “bad Hollywood movie”: Another fighter, a promoter and a supermarket magnate are also suspects; there have been escapes to Spain and Canada; and an affair led to a fatal act of revenge, according to affidavits.
On Wednesday, Mr. Gandulla, who is called Ariel Gandulla Sarria in some court and Miami-Dade jail records, had a bond hearing in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida on charges of murder, conspiracy and kidnapping. A handcuffed Mr. Gandulla listened to a translator through headphones as Judge Mindy S. Glazer read the charges and scheduled his next appearance for Friday.On Wednesday, Mr. Gandulla, who is called Ariel Gandulla Sarria in some court and Miami-Dade jail records, had a bond hearing in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida on charges of murder, conspiracy and kidnapping. A handcuffed Mr. Gandulla listened to a translator through headphones as Judge Mindy S. Glazer read the charges and scheduled his next appearance for Friday.
Gail Levine, an assistant state attorney, said in the hearing that Mr. Gandulla had surrendered to the authorities in Miami on Tuesday. He “came voluntarily into this country from Canada on a significant parole benefit,” she said.Gail Levine, an assistant state attorney, said in the hearing that Mr. Gandulla had surrendered to the authorities in Miami on Tuesday. He “came voluntarily into this country from Canada on a significant parole benefit,” she said.
The authorities have requested that Mr. Gandulla be kept separate from his co-defendants while in custody, Ms. Levine said.The authorities have requested that Mr. Gandulla be kept separate from his co-defendants while in custody, Ms. Levine said.
Mr. Gandulla was a mixed martial arts fighter known as the Panther who had trained since childhood. He left his native Cuba and moved to the United States in 1994, according to a video profile published by Championship Fighting Alliance in 2012. In the video, he says he started fighting professionally in 2005 after moving to Miami.Mr. Gandulla was a mixed martial arts fighter known as the Panther who had trained since childhood. He left his native Cuba and moved to the United States in 1994, according to a video profile published by Championship Fighting Alliance in 2012. In the video, he says he started fighting professionally in 2005 after moving to Miami.
In 2012, he moved to Canada, where, as a 5-foot-11 middleweight, he lost fights in Victoria, Fort St. John and Richmond over the next few years, according to fight websites. He trained at a kickboxing studio in Vancouver, where he was known as a quiet family man who loved judo and muay Thai, The Vancouver Sun reported.In 2012, he moved to Canada, where, as a 5-foot-11 middleweight, he lost fights in Victoria, Fort St. John and Richmond over the next few years, according to fight websites. He trained at a kickboxing studio in Vancouver, where he was known as a quiet family man who loved judo and muay Thai, The Vancouver Sun reported.
In April last year, prosecutors in Miami announced charges against Mr. Gandulla as well as a second fighter, Alexis Vila, 48; a boxing promoter, Roberto Isaac, 63; and Miguel Marin, 65, who owned supermarkets and is accused of ordering the 2011 murder of Mr. Salazar after he had an affair with Mr. Marin’s wife, according to the affidavit.In April last year, prosecutors in Miami announced charges against Mr. Gandulla as well as a second fighter, Alexis Vila, 48; a boxing promoter, Roberto Isaac, 63; and Miguel Marin, 65, who owned supermarkets and is accused of ordering the 2011 murder of Mr. Salazar after he had an affair with Mr. Marin’s wife, according to the affidavit.
At the time, Mr. Gandulla was “living freely” with his family in Vancouver while his application for Canadian residency was being reviewed, The Vancouver Sun reported.At the time, Mr. Gandulla was “living freely” with his family in Vancouver while his application for Canadian residency was being reviewed, The Vancouver Sun reported.
The affidavit said records of cellphone calls among the four men connected them to the murder on June 1, 2011. Affidavits in the case allege that Mr. Marin returned to Miami that day after traveling to Bimini on a yacht with his family, and met with Mr. Isaac and Mr. Gandulla.The affidavit said records of cellphone calls among the four men connected them to the murder on June 1, 2011. Affidavits in the case allege that Mr. Marin returned to Miami that day after traveling to Bimini on a yacht with his family, and met with Mr. Isaac and Mr. Gandulla.
Mr. Salazar’s body was discovered at 6:30 p.m., and days later, Mr. Marin fled to Spain, the affidavit says. He was arrested and extradited to South Florida last year, The Miami Herald reported. Mr. Isaac’s and Mr. Vila’s trials are set to begin next month, the newspaper said.Mr. Salazar’s body was discovered at 6:30 p.m., and days later, Mr. Marin fled to Spain, the affidavit says. He was arrested and extradited to South Florida last year, The Miami Herald reported. Mr. Isaac’s and Mr. Vila’s trials are set to begin next month, the newspaper said.
Jay Kolsky, Mr. Gandulla’s lawyer, did not reply to emails and telephone calls on Wednesday and Thursday. Peter Edelmann, his lawyer in Canada, declined to comment.Jay Kolsky, Mr. Gandulla’s lawyer, did not reply to emails and telephone calls on Wednesday and Thursday. Peter Edelmann, his lawyer in Canada, declined to comment.
In November, the state attorney of Miami-Dade County, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, said Mr. Marin’s son Yaddiel had been arrested as an accessory after the fact. An affidavit in support of his arrest says that he secretly supported his father, overseeing the sale of property and child-support payments while the elder Mr. Marin was in Spain.In November, the state attorney of Miami-Dade County, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, said Mr. Marin’s son Yaddiel had been arrested as an accessory after the fact. An affidavit in support of his arrest says that he secretly supported his father, overseeing the sale of property and child-support payments while the elder Mr. Marin was in Spain.
“The facts regarding this case are like that of a bad Hollywood movie — wealth, infidelity, rage, conspiracy and murder,” Ms. Fernandez Rundle said.“The facts regarding this case are like that of a bad Hollywood movie — wealth, infidelity, rage, conspiracy and murder,” Ms. Fernandez Rundle said.
Yaddiel Marin’s oversight of his father’s financial and other affairs prevented law enforcement from learning Mr. Marin’s whereabouts, the affidavit says.Yaddiel Marin’s oversight of his father’s financial and other affairs prevented law enforcement from learning Mr. Marin’s whereabouts, the affidavit says.
“It just highlights to all in our community that we do not stop working these cases,” Juan J. Perez, the director of the Miami-Dade Police Department said at the news conference in November. “Time may pass but our effort does not, our diligence does not. The long arm of the law will get you.”“It just highlights to all in our community that we do not stop working these cases,” Juan J. Perez, the director of the Miami-Dade Police Department said at the news conference in November. “Time may pass but our effort does not, our diligence does not. The long arm of the law will get you.”