- Nicolas Soares was arrested in Nairobi over a 2010 Miami murder after evading authorities for more than 15 years
- He allegedly shot Herbert Caniza during a robbery attempt, leaving the victim critically injured, before he later died
- Investigators linked Soares to the crime through a modified ‘Warner Brothers’ t-shirt used as a mask and witness testimonies
- After fleeing to Brazil and later Kenya, he was extradited to Miami, denied bond, and placed in detention awaiting trial
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
After more than 15 years on the run, Nicolas Soares has been arrested in Nairobi over a 2010 Miami murder and extradited to South Florida to face justice.
Source: UGC
demeanour
Authorities charged him with second-degree murder and armed robbery following a deadly shooting that left Herbert Caniza dead.
A report by Local10.com revealed that an arrest warrant from the Miami Police Department stated that Soares, then 19, went to Caniza’s home on September 7, 2010, intending to rob him of drugs and cash.
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When Caniza opened his front door, the 34-year-old man allegedly shot him in the chest, leaving him for dead.
Caniza was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators said the case took a significant turn when a “Warner Brothers” t-shirt was discovered at the scene.
The shirt, modified into a makeshift mask, did not belong to Caniza, with Soares’ former roommate later confirming the owner.
He revealed that he had accompanied Soares to purchase the shirt and recalled that the suspect had planned the robbery hours before the shooting.
How did police zero in on Soares as murder suspect?
Additional witness accounts painted a picture of Soares’ behaviour on the day of the murder.
One described him as “paranoid, anxious, and very erratic,” a demeanour that raised immediate suspicion among those around him.
Law enforcement also determined that Soares had a clear motive as he needed money and bhang to sell, which prompted him to target Caniza.
A key breakthrough came from an unexpected source after Soares’ own mother contacted her days after the shooting, claiming he was in imminent danger.
Concerned for his safety, she booked travel for him to Brazil through a travel agency and funded the trip herself.
Source: UGC
Soares’ departure allowed him to evade law enforcement for years, moving first to Brazil and eventually making his way to Africa.
The Miami Police Department, in collaboration with federal agencies, tracked Soares to Nairobi, where he was arrested.
He was then extradited to Miami and brought before a Miami-Dade court, where he was denied bond and assigned a public defender.
Soares remains in detention at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Centre while authorities continue preparations for his trial.
Kenyan arrested over US murder
In a separate report, Kevin Kangethe, a 40-year-old Kenyan man, was arrested in Nairobi on January 29, 2024, in connection with the murder of his girlfriend, Margaret Mbitu.
Mbitu, a 30-year-old nurse from Massachusetts, was reported missing on October 30, 2023.
Her body was discovered days later in a car at Logan International Airport, showing signs of multiple stab wounds.
Kangethe fled to Kenya shortly after the incident and was apprehended while socialising at a pub in Westlands.
The FBI had been collaborating with Kenyan authorities to locate and apprehend Kangethe, and his extradition to the US is pending.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
