MIAMI - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Miami Dade Police Department, arrested Jose D. Fontanillas, 63, on two counts of premeditated first-degree murder yesterday in Miami. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and FDLE led the investigation.
"I appreciate the hard work of FDLE agents in this case," said Hamilton County Sheriff J. Harrell Reid.
"I thank our FDLE Agents in the Tallahassee and Miami Regional Operations Centers, along with Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputies whose investigative work led to the apprehension of this dangerous suspect," said FDLE Tallahassee Regional Operations Center Special Agent In Charge, Mark Perez.
Fontanillas is charged with murdering his mother-in-law, Elouise Welcome, 80, and his wife, Diane Williams, 58 at their home, 1324 Mary Street, Jennings, Fla. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and Jennings Police Department were called to the home on Jan. 25, 2015 and found Welcome and Williams deceased, along with the family dog. After the murders, information was obtained by law enforcement that Fontanillas fled to the Miami area.
Fontanillas was arrested without incident walking along SE 1st Street and Biscayne Blvd in Miami Friday afternoon. He was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail and will return to Hamilton County to face the charges. Office of the State Attorney, 3rd Judicial Circuit will prosecute this case.
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Samantha Andrews or Steve Arthur
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001
(850) 294-6538
J. Harrell Reid
Hamilton County Sheriff
386-792-1001