A husband from Florida is accused of killing his wife with a homemade bomb after an argument in a vehicle.
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Per a report by NBC Miami, the incident occurred on February 1 at around 6 am. Police have revealed they believe the explosion was intentional following a dispute inside the vehicle.
A neighbor, Miguel Hernandez, said, "I get up like, what is happening? Because the explosion was too, too, too loud. It wasn't a pow, pow. It was a bah bah! Unfortunately, we couldn't help because of the explosion. The fire was so big we couldn't help them."
The news report explains that the suspect's wife, who police have not named, was in the passenger seat when Hernandez heard the explosion. Police reportedly said the body was 'burned beyond recognition.' Authorities arrested the victim's husband, Noel Ruiz Mestre, 50, and charged him with arson and murder. Police also accuse Ruiz Mestre of using a homemade explosive.
Hernandez described the victim as "a real nice person. She always said hello, how are you? Happy Christmas, Happy Halloween."
A Doorbell Camera Caught The Bomb Detonating From Across The Street
NBC revealed footage of the explosion from a doorbell camera across the road. The blast is so intense it briefly blinds the camera.
The outlet explains that according to an arrest form, the vehicle drove away from the residence and suddenly stopped. The couple reportedly argued in the car, and the spouse tried to exit the vehicle but couldn't. Ruiz Mestre allegedly exited the car and intentionally detonated the explosion.
The suspect reportedly went home afterward and got rid of his burned clothes. He then allegedly stabbed himself in the stomach and left the area. The suspect called 911 about his wounds later, and emergency services took him to hospital. Authorities will take him to jail when he is well enough.
Per a report by the Daily Mail, authorities have not revealed a few important pieces of information. We don't know why the victim could not leave the vehicle before it exploded, nor do we know what Ruiz Mestre used to cause such a powerful blast. It's also unclear where he obtained the explosive and whether he carried it before the altercation.
When Hernandez was asked about Ruiz Mestre, he described him as quiet. "He usually takes a chair and sits in front of the house. He does nothing, I don't know, he was really strange," he added.
