Press Releases

Bonita Springs Murder
Sept. 20, 2008

Homicide detectives have only a sketch of the man they believe killed a Bonita Springs resident last year – but they hope it will jar someone’s memory of who this man is.

The body found alongside the railroad tracks in Bonita Springs left investigators trying to piece together an unsolved murder and put a name with the face of the man they believe killed Juan Ayala Sanchez.

“Anyone who may have been in the area, and who may have seen what happened or who knows the suspect," said Lee County Sheriff's Office detective Bill Murphy.

During the evening hours of Saturday, January 20th, deputies believe Ayala Sanchez and another unidentified man got into some kind of altercation in the area just north of West Terry Street in Bonita Springs.

Around 10 p.m., two passers-by found the victim’s body, and the killer gone.

Detectives believe the answer to Ayala’s murder lies in this neighborhood in Bonita Springs, where Ayala’s body was found just about 100 yards from the railroad tracks.

A blood trail led detectives through a wooded area and into a homeless camp – which is where they believe Ayala met with his killer.

Investigators say Ayala had no family in the area, and worked for the labor pool in Bonita. What’s unclear is who Ayala got into a fight with, and the details of what transpired that night along the railroad tracks.

Detectives have released a composite sketch of the man they say killed Juan Ayala Sanchez. They’re asking for anyone who knows the identity of this man to come forward and report anonymously what they know.

“There may be a fear factor in people coming forward, but we have had some people talk to us and give us some information," Murphy said.

Detectives believe the suspect may use the names of Gumaro or Hacinto. He is a Hispanic male, approximately 5’5”, 175 pounds, who may have formerly, or still, live in a homeless camp in Bonita Springs. And just one call from the public with the killer’s name could put a four month old case to rest.

Anyone with information on the murder of Juan Ayala Sanchez, or the man fitting the composite description, is encouraged to call the Crime Stoppers 24 hours a day at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for up to $1,000 in cash rewards.