1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: This show discusses cold case murders and the people who 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: spend their lives fighting for justice. We hope to raise 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: public awareness and invite witnesses to come forward with evidence 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: that could potentially be investigated by law enforcement. We also 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: remind listeners that everyone has pursued innocent until proven guilty 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: in a court of law, and that an arrest is 7 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: not a conviction. Nothing in the podcast is intended to 8 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 1: state or imply that anyone who has not been convicted 9 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: of a crime is guilty of any wrongdoing. 10 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 2: So as a run, Christmas time and as usual, we're 11 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: all preparing for what we're going to do, what we're 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 2: going to buy, what we're going to eat. 13 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: Annabel Herrera still remembers the morning of December twenty two, 14 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: twenty twelve. It was the first weekend of her kid's 15 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: Christmas break, but her sixteen year old steps on, Brian, 16 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: wasn't totally free from schoolwork, not quite yet. 17 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: They always give them a packet of homework to do, 18 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: so him and his friend, his best friend, they had decided, Okay, 19 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 2: I'll go over your house in the morning. We'll get 20 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 2: the package done really quick that day, and then we 21 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: can have the rest of the two weeks to just 22 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: hang out and play video games, so that was a plan. 23 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,479 Speaker 1: It was a pretty typical Saturday morning for the Jereta family, 24 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: partly sunny, high in the mid sixties, just another December 25 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 1: day in Miami, Florida. Brian's dad, William, was already at 26 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: work doing construction. His older sister was sleeping, So around 27 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: eleven am, Brian put on a baseball cap, grabbed his 28 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: bike and his backpack, and headed over to his friend's 29 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: place a few blocks away. 30 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: So it was fairly close. A quick ride over and 31 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 2: about maybe two and a half blocks later, that's when 32 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 2: he was encountered by someone. 33 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: Later that day, Brian's father, William, got a phone call 34 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: from an unknown number. 35 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 2: The detective called my husband and he asked him, where 36 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 2: are you to speak to you about Brian? Is that 37 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: your son? 38 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: Yes? 39 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 2: It is? Is he okay? Is he in trouble? We 40 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 2: just need to talk to you. They wouldn't say anything, 41 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: just said tell me where you are, we'll go to 42 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: you soon. 43 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: An officer from the City of Miami Police Department arrived 44 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: at William's job site. 45 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 2: They showed up there and that's when they told him 46 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 2: we found your son. They found him on the street. 47 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 2: He told him that they found him dead. 48 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: William was in shock. He called his wife. 49 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: The call was horrible. I replayed over in my head 50 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 2: all the time, and it was him just telling me 51 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 2: they killed my Brian. They killed my Brian. And that's 52 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: a phrase that I'll never forget again. 53 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: Their son, Brian, a good kid, a straight a student 54 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 1: who loved video games and hanging out with his friends, 55 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: was dead. It didn't make any sense, but nothing makes 56 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: sense in those early hours after a tragedy, your numb 57 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: with shock. The Hereras figured they know more soon. They 58 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: had no idea how long it would take to Finanswers 59 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: from School of Humans and iHeart Podcasts. This is Cold 60 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: Case Files Miami. I'm your host Enriques Santos. Around eleven 61 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: am on Saturday, December twenty second, twenty twelve, the City 62 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: of Miami Police Department received several nine to one to 63 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: one calls from neighbors who'd heard gunshots. Someone reported seeing 64 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: a person on the ground. Minutes later, an officer arrived 65 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: at the intersection of Northwest eleventh Avenue and thirty ninth 66 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: Street in the neighborhood of Alapada. Sixteen year old Brian 67 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: Herera was lying near the street unconscious and bleeding. He 68 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: was rushed to Miami's main hospital, Jackson Memorial. Doctors tried 69 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: to save him, but there wasn't much they could do. 70 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 3: He ended up succumbing to his injuries and he was 71 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 3: prononcecist at the hospital. 72 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: That's Sergeant Nikolai Trifanoff. Sergeant Trivinoff has been with MIAMIPD 73 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: since two thousand and four and he's been heading up 74 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: the cold case unit since twenty twenty one. 75 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 3: In cold case, we're really responsible for all open cases 76 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 3: that have little to know leads left. The leads have 77 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 3: been worked to exhaustion. 78 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: But before he was on the cold case team, Sergeant 79 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: Trivenoff worked in homicide and one of the cases he 80 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: worked on was Brian Riras. 81 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 3: Brian was writing a bike two a friend's house, he 82 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 3: was approached by the offender. At that time, there was 83 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 3: a struggle between them and Brian was shot in the head. 84 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: In any homicide investigation, there are standard procedures that take place. 85 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: The crime scene unit arrived to collect evidence, including Brian's 86 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: backpack which had been left on the ground filled with 87 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: his draw and schoolwork, and detectives tried to figure out who, 88 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: if anyone saw something. 89 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 3: We do neighborhood canvases, knock on doors, tried to identify witnesses, 90 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 3: trying to determine how many suspects there are, what type 91 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 3: of weapon was used. Obviously, really that's the beginning of it. 92 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: I know Sergeant triffinoff from mutual acquaintances at the Miami 93 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: Police Department, where he's a full time officer. I worked 94 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: there as a reserve officer. My full time job is 95 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: morning radio. I'm a proud Miami and the son of 96 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: human immigrants, and I host two shows that are broadcast 97 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: around the United States, the Endriquessanto's Morning Show in Spanish 98 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: and On the Move with Endrique Santos in English. A 99 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: lot of people who just know me from the radio 100 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,359 Speaker 1: are surprised to hear that I am also a cop 101 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:50,559 Speaker 1: that had wanted to be one since I was a kid, 102 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: and after high school I enrolled in the police Academy. 103 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: In nineteen ninety four, I had started my career with 104 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: the North Miami Police Department, and about four or five 105 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: years in a funny thing happened. I call the radio 106 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 1: station I was listening to and ended up becoming friends 107 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: with the guy who picked up the phone. Over the 108 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: next couple of years, the friendship led to me becoming 109 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 1: a DJ, and in two thousand, I traded my police 110 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: badge for a microphone and started a full time job 111 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: hosting a morning show. I've been doing that for almost 112 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: twenty five years now, half my life, and I love 113 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: working in radio. But listen, those years as a cop 114 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: taught me a lot. You learn so much you could 115 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: never get in any university. I don't mean how to 116 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: solve a crime. I mean the psychological stuff, learning to 117 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 1: de escalate violent and dangerous situations, the value of life, 118 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: and what it means to have a partner watching your back. 119 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: There's also a lot of firsts. First time you see 120 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,679 Speaker 1: a dead body, the first time you need to knock 121 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 1: on a door and tell a mother that her son's 122 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: not coming home because he's been shot. Those are very, 123 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: very tough things to learn on the job. My work 124 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: as a police officer also taught me that across Miami, 125 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: most people really care about their neighbors. And their neighbor 126 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: you want to be safe, and they want their kids 127 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: to be safe. And when crimes do happen, especially horrible 128 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: ones like murders, everyone wants them to be solved and 129 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: the killers to be brought to justice. But in those 130 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: early hours after Brian's murder, the Herrera family wasn't even 131 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: thinking about justice. They were still incomplete and utter shock. 132 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: You just. 133 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 2: You don't even know if you're living on alternate reality. 134 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: You don't even know if you're what's going on is real. 135 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: You're just going through the motions, you're not even thinking. 136 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: It still felt like maybe this was all just a 137 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 1: terrible mistake. 138 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 2: We were expecting him to walk through the door and 139 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 2: it was already like seven o'clock at night. My husband 140 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 2: kept saying, but are you sure it's him? Maybe it's 141 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 2: not him, And I kept saying, babe, but if not, 142 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 2: he would be home by now. 143 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: The rest of the day was a blur. The next night, 144 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: the police called the Hereras with the request they needed 145 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,559 Speaker 1: them to come in the day to officially identify Brian's body. 146 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 2: My husband said, I don't want you to go. 147 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to go. 148 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: So a friend went with him. It was Christmas Eve 149 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 2: and he had to go identify his son's body. 150 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 3: That was rough. 151 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: He says that they just show you like a picture, 152 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: and he says he fell, he collapsed, he had no energy. 153 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 2: That's when it all came down on him and he 154 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: just accepted he's gone, and he was just destroyed. We 155 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 2: had a little girl at that time, you know, she 156 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 2: was only five, so you know, she's still tomorrow. Santa's coming, 157 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 2: you know, and we're still like, yeah, Santa's coming, don't worry, 158 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 2: Sanna's coming, you know, and we still have to go 159 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:49,239 Speaker 2: through with it, knowing that we're just in shambles. 160 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,199 Speaker 1: As the days and weeks passed, the police still didn't 161 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: have much news to share. No eyewitnesses had come forward, 162 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: even though Brian had been shot on a Saturday morning 163 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: and broad daylight. Detectives believed it was likely a robbery, 164 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 1: but there were no descriptions of any potential suspects. 165 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: They felt it was something random. He was just chosen 166 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 2: for some reason, but that was pretty much about it. 167 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: One of the few leads the police had was an 168 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 1: older gentleman who lived in the neighborhood. He told the 169 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: cops that the morning of Brian's death, he'd been approached 170 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: by a man in a car who asked him to 171 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: call nine one one and then drove away before police arrived. 172 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: The neighbor didn't know much more than that. Still, the 173 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: Heredras were hoping that he might be willing to talk 174 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: to them. 175 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 2: We tried after talking to the elderly man, and we 176 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 2: just could never. You know, nobody would open the door 177 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 2: to us. We just could never get in contact with him. 178 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: In fact, the Hereras liked the police struggled to speak 179 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: to anyone who might have seen something. 180 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 2: Someone told us at the beginning that the house across 181 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 2: the street where it happened, somebody was there, that it 182 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 2: was a child, and they would look through the window 183 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:06,079 Speaker 2: when they heard the bang. We knocked many times there, 184 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 2: they never opened the door. I even mailed letters out 185 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 2: to every single house there explained their situation that they 186 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 2: can contact crime stoppers and they can give their information, 187 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 2: and you know, they didn't have to say who they were. 188 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: Nothing. 189 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: We went to that block and we talked to some 190 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:27,839 Speaker 2: of the neighbors. Most of the neighbors did not want 191 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,959 Speaker 2: to talk to us, so, I mean, it was pretty 192 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 2: useless for us to even continue to talking to anybody 193 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 2: because nobody would talk. 194 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,319 Speaker 1: Annabel came into Brian's world when he was around three 195 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: years old. She had recently started dating his father, William. 196 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: I met William at the beach. You know, he was 197 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 2: walking and I was walking as well, and we just 198 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 2: started talking. 199 00:10:55,960 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: They hit it off almost immediately. He was Venezuelan, she 200 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 1: was Cuban. He had children from his previous marriage. Annabel 201 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 1: had children too. 202 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 2: We dated very shortly and moved in quickly. Brian was 203 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 2: four years old and he had two older sisters who 204 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: were I relieve thirteen and fourteen at the time, so 205 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 2: they came to live with me and my two children. 206 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 2: He was a very sweet, shy child, very quiet. His 207 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 2: dad used to call her chru Chito, the poppy. True 208 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: Chito is just a funny, little Hispanic thing. Chu Chito 209 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 2: is like, I don't know, like you would say sweety 210 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 2: Daddy's sweetye or something like that, just something cute. 211 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: The family was living in Highlia Gardens, a suburb of Miami. 212 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: Annabel remembers those years with a lot of fondness and 213 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 1: how Brian, as the youngest, was kind of the center 214 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: of attention. 215 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 2: Oh he was the baby brother, so you know, his 216 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 2: older brother and sisters adored him. We have a lot 217 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 2: of sweet memory. I mean, he was a great video 218 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 2: game player. Everybody would go outside and play and he 219 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 2: would just stay inside and he was really good, and 220 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: he would teach his two other brothers what to play 221 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 2: and know, you got to do this and this is 222 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,719 Speaker 2: a trick. And so they were always getting pointers for 223 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 2: him because even though he was the youngest, he was 224 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 2: the best at the games. 225 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: In twenty twelve, Bryan's family moved to the neighborhood of Alapada, 226 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: northwest of downtown Miami. It's an area with families who've 227 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: lived there for generations, as well as newly arrived transplants 228 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: and immigrants from all over Latin America and the Caribbean. 229 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: In two thousand and three, a stretch of Alipada was 230 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: officially named Little Santo Domingo, and the Dominican influence is clear, 231 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: from seafood markets to Natine Bakery to the long standing 232 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: restaurant Glub Dipico Dominicano. Brian lived not too far from 233 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: Club Tipico, a couple of blocks from the one ninety 234 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: five Expressway that cuts through the city as it connects 235 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: drivers from the airport to Miami Beach. 236 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 2: It's a lower income area where working hard people who 237 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 2: just can't afford the higher rents in Miami. That's where 238 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 2: they live. They keep their houses really nice and there's 239 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 2: a lot of good people. 240 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: In twenty twelve, when Brian was there, Alapada also had 241 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: some of the highest assault and homicide rates in all 242 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: of Miami Dade County. In fact, from twenty ten to 243 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: twenty twelve, the homicide rate where Brian lived was nearly 244 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: five times the county average. But Dieredras didn't know that 245 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,599 Speaker 1: when they moved in. They just knew it was affordable 246 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: and the apartment building itself seemed safe. 247 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 2: The actual building was a gated building, and it was new. 248 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 2: It looked like a really nice building, and you know, 249 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 2: the rent was affordable and everything looked great. But unfortunately 250 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 2: we weren't aware of that area that fall. 251 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: Brian started his sophomore year at Miami Jackson High. 252 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 2: He was a very good student. He was a straight 253 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 2: a student, very smart. His teachers loved him. 254 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: Brian was a specially drawn to science. 255 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 2: One of our daughters she had a kidney issue and 256 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 2: she had robotic surgery. So he was talking a lot 257 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 2: with his dad that he would really like to get 258 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 2: into robotics. So he really thought that might be something 259 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 2: he was interested in pursuing. 260 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: This is the same Brian who didn't come home that 261 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: one December evening. Brian, the baby brother, the video gamer, 262 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: the straight a student who wanted to get into robotics 263 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: to help people, the sweet, shy child his family adored. 264 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: He was only sixteen when he was murdered, just figuring 265 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: out who he was and the kind of person he 266 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: wanted to become. The News of what happened to Brian 267 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: spread in the days after his death. The Eddas were 268 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: especially touched when his school organized a walk in his honor. 269 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 2: We all handed out flyers for hours. It was very 270 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 2: moving to see so many people come out for him. 271 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 2: Everybody would come up to us and tell us their 272 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 2: individual stories, the friendships that they had with him, even 273 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 2: the little interactions that they had. Everybody's stories were beautiful 274 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 2: and we were just we were crying because it was like, Wow, 275 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 2: he made such an impact and we didn't even know. 276 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: Neighbors also reached out to Annabelle and William with condolences. 277 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 2: We encountered so many good people who came to us, 278 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 2: and you know, they brought us food, and everybody invited 279 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 2: us to their church. Everybody wanted to, you know, pray 280 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: for us and pray for Brian, and so we did. 281 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: We saw a lot of beautiful people in the area, 282 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 2: a lot. 283 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: But they also saw people who were scared to talk 284 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: about Brian's murder and what they may or may not 285 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 1: have seen. 286 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 2: The whole Snitches get stitches. Absolutely, that is very prominent 287 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 2: and everybody knows it. We were promoting see something, say something, 288 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 2: but they're used to No, you don't say anything, because 289 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 2: you say something, your mother gets killed, you say something, 290 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 2: your brother gets killed. They say something, they catch you 291 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 2: and they shoot you and they kill you. 292 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: The Herenas didn't learn much from the police either, and 293 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: what they did here changed over time as weeks, months, 294 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: and even years passed after Brian's killing without him the rest. 295 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 2: At the beginning, we heard, oh, there was several people involved, 296 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 2: several people ran from the scene. Then in the last 297 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 2: couple of years, we haven't heard that being said anymore. 298 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 2: So we have no idea if it was just one 299 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 2: person or it was several people. 300 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: To the Heredras, it seemed like the police couldn't really 301 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: share much at all. 302 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 2: It was just very little bits and pieces of information. 303 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 2: They couldn't tell us if everything that was in his 304 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 2: book pack was there, if they had taken anything. We've 305 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 2: never seen the book back again, or the bike or 306 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 2: any of the stuff inside. We've asked, can we have 307 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: the bike back? Nope, it's evidence, you know. Can we 308 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 2: know at least what was inside the book back? 309 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 3: No. 310 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: Annabelle knew Brian and would have had his phone on him, 311 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: a simple phone his dad bought him to play video 312 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 1: games on. It didn't even have service, it only worked 313 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 1: over Wi Fi. But had the cops found it, she 314 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 1: didn't know. Still, Annabel and the police had a theory 315 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: about what could have happened. 316 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 2: I think somebody approached him. We don't know if he 317 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 2: was still riding bike, or he was off his bike. 318 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 2: Maybe he was looking his phone. I have no idea. 319 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 2: Somebody just approached him. There was some kind of altercation, 320 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 2: we don't know why, and then somehow in that altercation 321 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 2: he was shocked. 322 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: But a theory, especially when without witnesses or even a suspect, 323 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: wasn't enough to go on. And as the years passed, 324 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: Annabel stopped receiving any updates on Brian's case. 325 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 2: So about maybe two years into the investigation, I stopped 326 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 2: hearing from the detective. I got really concerned, so I 327 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 2: left messages at the homicide department. If I kept messaging 328 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 2: and messaging no call back, nobody would message me back. 329 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: By this point, Annabel understood that solving Brian's case wasn't 330 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: going to be simple, but she wanted to know he 331 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 1: hadn't been forgotten. 332 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 2: We wanted them to call us back, to give us information, 333 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 2: even if it's just to say I have no new information, 334 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,880 Speaker 2: you know, but at least let us know that you're 335 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 2: listening to us, that you know we're still here, that 336 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 2: you're working on our kid's case. Because a lot of 337 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 2: these mothers say, oh, it's been seventy years, I haven't 338 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 2: heard from my detective. That wasn't going to happen to me. 339 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 2: I was going to keep fighting and I was going 340 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 2: to get in their face. 341 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: Frustrated with the lack of response, Annabel turned to the 342 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 1: Internet for help. 343 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,360 Speaker 2: I read somewhere find an activist, and so I did. 344 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 1: Annabel came across an organization called Florida Parents of Murdered Children, 345 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: which had been founded by a Miami woman named Tangela Sears. 346 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 2: I called her on the phone and she immediately picked up. 347 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 2: She just started, you know, hooking me up. Okay, you 348 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 2: need to talk like a you're going to talk to 349 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 2: the mayor, A you're going to talk to the chief 350 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 2: of police, you're gonna talk to the homicide department. I'm 351 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 2: going to get you in with the commander. So little 352 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 2: by little, that's what we did. 353 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,719 Speaker 3: I can see very very well. How you know, family 354 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,479 Speaker 3: members can say, oh, well, nothing's being done in my case. 355 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 3: It's just forgotten about. 356 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: Sergeant Triffinoff is sympathetic to Annibal's frustration. 357 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 3: We tell the families, look, have patience with us. You know, 358 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 3: we're doing our best. We're following those leads. We're constantly 359 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 3: switching gears. We're constantly let's get that case, let's get 360 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 3: this case. Okay, there's something moving on this case, let's 361 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 3: go there. But as a family, I can understand after 362 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 3: years go by, it's like, are they just blowing smoke? 363 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 3: Are they just giving me unwarranted hope? But there are times, 364 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 3: you know, like in this case, where we had our 365 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 3: hands tied at moments where there just wasn't wasn't anything 366 00:19:58,680 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 3: that was able to go. 367 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: In twenty sixteen, Sergeant Trivinoff was named lead detective on 368 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: Brian's case, and he immediately began looking into it. 369 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 3: I start looking at if there's any DNA on the case, 370 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 3: anything that needed to go to the lab, that hadn't 371 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 3: been sent to the lab, all these things, and I 372 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 3: noticed that there was some evidence on the case that 373 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 3: needed to be looked at. We incorporate familial DNA genealogy, 374 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 3: additional testing on the DNA. I started looking into it 375 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 3: and interview several people, possible suspects, witnesses, stuff like that. 376 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: Unfortunately, none of this new information was enough to make 377 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 1: an arrest. 378 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 3: There were little leads throughout the years. There's always been 379 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 3: something that we've been able to work on and look into, 380 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:03,159 Speaker 3: but nothing stolid that pointed to a specific individual. 381 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 1: With all leads exhausted, the department needed an outside tip 382 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: to move the case along. 383 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 3: At that point, it's just hoping that somebody that saw 384 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 3: something comes forward with whatever they saw, you know, anything 385 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 3: they heard, even if they think it's trivial and they 386 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 3: didn't really hear or see anything. Any little piece of 387 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 3: information is very important for us. We can always use 388 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 3: that and it may turn into something bigger and better 389 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 3: that we can use. 390 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: In twenty eighteen, Triffonoff was promoted to sergeant and the 391 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: case was reassigned to another detective, but Triffonoff never forgot 392 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: about Brian. 393 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,120 Speaker 3: And I had told annabel when I first met her 394 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 3: that will never give up on this. I had an 395 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 3: attachment to the case. It was a sixteen year old 396 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,959 Speaker 3: high school student that was just going to do his 397 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 3: homework at a friend's house. So I kept working it 398 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 3: even though I had left the unit. 399 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 1: Meanwhile, Annabelle was also still fighting for her son. Try 400 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: to keep focus on his case and gather any information 401 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: she could. She posted regularly on the Facebook page she'd 402 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 1: set up Justice for Brian Rera. She talked to anyone 403 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: who would listen, the press, the police, the public. She 404 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 1: was open to anything that might lead to that much 405 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: needed tip. 406 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 4: I need someone to come forward and say what happened 407 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 4: that day, say the truth what you saw. This is 408 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 4: my child and I want closure. But if this was 409 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 4: your child, you would want to know who did this 410 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 4: to them. No one deserves this. Let's put this guy away, 411 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 4: Let's close this case. 412 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty two, she applied for a grant from 413 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 1: Season of Justice, a nonprofit that funds efforts to solve 414 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: code cases nationwide. With the money she received, she put 415 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 1: up a billboard in Alapada, near where Brian was killed. 416 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 1: The organization also paid for signs for the family to 417 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: set up around the area. 418 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, nothing came out of that. But you got to 419 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 2: keep trying until you get something, and we're gonna keep trying. 420 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 2: We're gonna keep pushing. 421 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: But by early twenty twenty four, despite everything Annabelle had done, 422 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: despite the work by the City of Miami police, Bran's 423 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,439 Speaker 1: case was completely cold. 424 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,120 Speaker 3: We hit a standstill. There were no leads available to us. 425 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: It had been over a decade since Brian's murder, and 426 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 1: solving his case felt further away than ever. The emotional 427 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: toll this had taken on the Heretra family was immense. 428 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 2: Honestly, there's been certain points in time where I'm like, 429 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 2: maybe we should just let it go, because maybe it's 430 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 2: tormenting us too much, and maybe we just need to 431 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 2: just concentrate on grieving and living and forget about all 432 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 2: this justice or revenge or whatever it is you want 433 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 2: to call it. Every time I would say, you know, 434 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 2: maybe I'm just going to back off, I would ask 435 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 2: my husband. I would say, do you want me to 436 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 2: stop and just let this go? He was like, no, 437 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 2: do you want to stop. I'm like, no, I just 438 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 2: want to make sure we want to keep fighting. He's no, 439 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 2: I'll go for it, keep fighting. So then I was like, 440 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:11,639 Speaker 2: that's it. I'm going to keep fighting. 441 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 1: And then in December twenty twenty four, a full twelve 442 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: years after Brian's death, seemingly out of the blue, the 443 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: Ereras get an update. 444 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 2: All throughout these years, it's just me following back up 445 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 2: with the detectives and they're still working on this and 446 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 2: we're working on that, but there's never been a person 447 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,120 Speaker 2: of interest. There had never been anything. And then that's 448 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 2: when we received a phone call that we've been waiting 449 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 2: for for a very long time. 450 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: In December twenty twenty four, while we were making this episode, 451 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: Annabelle and William Herrera received a call from the Miami Police. 452 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 2: They let us know that there was a witness they 453 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,439 Speaker 2: came forward and they were going to be arresting someone. 454 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 2: We were very emotional, but we really try to hold 455 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 2: it together so we can get all the information and 456 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 2: not say that there crying. Then once we hung up, 457 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 2: as when we you know, we melted down and we 458 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 2: started crying and hugging. 459 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 1: The news came almost twelve years to the day since 460 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: Brian was killed. 461 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 2: A murder mystery solved. 462 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 1: It was the focus of a news conference Wednesday afternoon. 463 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 5: It no longer remains a cold case, the Miami Dade 464 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 5: State Attorney talking about the twenty twelve murder of sixteen 465 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,640 Speaker 5: year old Brian Herrera and the arrest that was made 466 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 5: in the case. 467 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 2: More than a decade later. 468 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 1: A suspect had been arrested in Brian's murder. According to police, 469 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,959 Speaker 1: a tip had come in from a witness, one they 470 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: had been looking for but hadn't been able to find. 471 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: It was the man in the car, the man who 472 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: asked the neighbor to call nine one one. 473 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 2: The witness. He was driving by and saw the defendant 474 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 2: with Brian. He saw like an argument going on, and 475 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 2: he started rolling up. He was in his car, and 476 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 2: he rolled up slowly next to them, and he told him, 477 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 2: come on, guys, it's Christmas. What are we fighting about? 478 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 2: And then he saw Brian whisper, I'm being robbed. And 479 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 2: he saw that the defendant had a gun in his hand, 480 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 2: pointed at Brian, and so he decided to just move 481 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 2: forward and go on because he was scared for his life. 482 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:29,719 Speaker 2: And then he saw Brian break loose and then he 483 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 2: heard a gunshot. 484 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: Here was the evidence to the theory the police and 485 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 1: the Hereras had all along. Brian was killed in a 486 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: robbery over a cell phone. A cell phone that was 487 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: never found, a cell phone that didn't even work without 488 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: Wi Fi. That crucial tip had come in just six 489 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 1: months earlier, in June twenty twenty four, when he called 490 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: the driver said he had information on a murder that 491 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: had happened just before Christmas twenty twelve. 492 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 3: We were advised of the tip and we followed up 493 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 3: on it. We sit down and interview that individual. They're 494 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 3: ultimately able to identify the person that they saw robbing 495 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 3: our victim of mister Perreira, and sitting with our state 496 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 3: Attorney's office and discussing everything, we're able to arrest the offender, 497 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 3: whose name is Adrian Grimes. 498 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,880 Speaker 1: Adrian Grimes is now thirty years old. Back in December 499 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: twenty twelve, when Brian was killed, he'd have just turned eighteen. 500 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: The witness said he'd known the suspect from the neighborhood 501 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 1: and he had a defining characteristic. Grimes only has one eye. 502 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: He lost it in an unrelated shooting that took place 503 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: after Brian's murder. After his arrest, a grand jury indicted 504 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 1: Adrian Grimes on charges of first degree murder and robbery 505 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: with a firearm on January twenty second, twenty twenty five. 506 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: Grimes's lawyer pleaded not guilty on behalf of his client. 507 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: The prosecutor later told the judge the state would be 508 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 1: seeking the death penalty. It's important to remember that an 509 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:08,360 Speaker 1: arrest is not a conviction. Eyewitness testimony can be unreliable 510 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 1: and it doesn't always stand up in court. Agent Grimes, 511 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 1: like everyone else, deserves due process. 512 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 3: This is not the end of the road here. We 513 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:22,400 Speaker 3: still have a long way to go. This is kind 514 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 3: of like an ending to a chapter. We've made an arrest, 515 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 3: but now we have trial or any type of core proceedings, 516 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 3: however they may go. 517 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: It will now be up to a jury to decide 518 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,359 Speaker 1: if the evidence proves Rhymes killed Brian. 519 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 3: In any case, even with a great case, you don't 520 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 3: have any guarantees that you're going to be able to 521 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 3: get a conviction. So it's a very very long journey 522 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 3: and it's very unsure Diras understand this well. 523 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 2: It doesn't feel like justice yet until he's been convicted 524 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 2: and then it's not really justice. But at least we 525 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 2: can move on with our with our lives without that 526 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 2: added issue on our backs that this guy is just 527 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 2: out there living his life while ourso lost his. 528 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 1: Because in the end, nothing can replace what theras lost. 529 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: It's Brian they miss and Brian they think about. 530 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 2: We're constantly talking about him and the funny little stories, 531 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 2: and he's He's always there. 532 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:26,719 Speaker 1: You know. 533 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 2: You wake up every morning, you open your eyes at 534 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 2: some point and put time during that day you're thinking 535 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 2: about him. It's not always, you know, about the murder. 536 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:40,840 Speaker 2: It's more about the cute things he did, the smart 537 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 2: things he did, things that he said. I have a 538 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 2: lot of times the last time I saw him, you 539 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 2: know what he said to me, and the image of 540 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 2: him sitting on the couch and he was playing video 541 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 2: games on his phone. He's watching TV and scrolling and 542 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 2: I can remember, I swear it's like yesterday I was 543 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 2: sitting here and he was sitting there and I was 544 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 2: black and forth looking at him, and I remember his 545 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 2: hair was outgrown, and you know, I told him, you 546 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 2: gotta get a haircut. Oh, my girlfriend likes it like this, 547 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 2: you know, So those are the little things that every 548 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 2: day pop up. 549 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: At a press conference after Grime's arraiement, Miami Police Chief 550 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: Manny Morales said he remembered how Annabel had told him 551 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: she'd felt abandoned by the detectives on Brian's case. He said, 552 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: theredra has lit a fire under his team, and that's 553 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: exactly what Annabel says. Anyone in her shoes should do. 554 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 2: Keep fighting that detective doesn't call you, show up at 555 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 2: the Hobbitside department as to speak to the commander. If 556 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 2: the commander doesn't figure it out, as to speak to 557 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 2: the chief of police, make yourself known to them, let 558 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 2: them know your face, let them know your name. And 559 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 2: every single time I would go to visit someone, I 560 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 2: would take them their picture. This picture is for you. 561 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 2: I want you to keep Brian's pace. I want you 562 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 2: to look at his picture and remember him every single day. 563 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 2: And every time I go to their offices, they have 564 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 2: his pictures pinned up. That's exactly what I want. I 565 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 2: wanted to remember who he is. And that's exactly what 566 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 2: all parents have to do. They have to keep fighting, 567 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 2: they have to keep pushing. 568 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 3: On. 569 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: This season of Cold Case Files, Miami we'll be speaking 570 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,880 Speaker 1: directly to those most deeply involved in this heartbreaking work. 571 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 1: We'll hear from the detectives investigating these cases on the ground. 572 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:35,640 Speaker 2: Once I went back to really take a look at him, 573 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 2: to all the statements, reading reports, I realize, Man, I 574 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 2: feel like we got a case here. 575 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 1: From the families of victims desperate for answers. 576 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 3: If we can concentrate this information throughout the states to 577 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 3: hear Mark Crai. 578 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 2: To know that George's death was not in vague. 579 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: Or searching for justice I said over six hundred emails 580 00:31:57,760 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 1: I did. 581 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 2: I had to go out to trust the police, but 582 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 2: you gotta help make sure there be a held accountable tool. 583 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: And from the prosecutors looking to convict those. 584 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 5: Responsible, they will do whatever it takes on behalf of 585 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 5: these victims to go to court and fight for them, 586 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 5: fight for the voiceless and for the powerless. 587 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 1: I'm Endrique Santos. Join me as we examine some of 588 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: Miami's cold cases and talk to the people these tragedies 589 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: affect most. Join us next week for cold case files Miami. 590 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 1: Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call 591 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 1: crime Stoppers anonymously at three zero five four seven to 592 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: one tips that's three zero five four seven one eight 593 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 1: four seven seven, or visit the website at Crimestoppers three 594 00:32:46,840 --> 00:33:00,040 Speaker 1: zero five dot com and select give a tip in 595 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:02,840 Speaker 1: case Files. Miami is a production of Iheart's Michael Tura 596 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 1: podcast Network and School of Humans. I'm your host, Enbriquasantos. 597 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 1: This show was written and researched by Marissa Brown. Our 598 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 1: lead producer is Josh Thain. He Delis Perees is our 599 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 1: senior producer. Sound design and mixed by Josh Thain, factchecking 600 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 1: by Savannah Hugley. Our production manager is Daisy Church. Special 601 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: thanks to Julia Ramirez from my production team. Our iHeart 602 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:31,800 Speaker 1: Radio executive producers including me Endrique Santos, carl Cadel and 603 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: Arlene Santana, and Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr and Elsie Crowley 604 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 1: from School of Humans. For more podcasts, listen to the 605 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your 606 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:45,840 Speaker 1: favorite shows.