2 arrested in Riverview death investigation days after body found in Weedon Island Nature Preserve

Murder suspects in court

Hillsborough County deputies have arrested two suspects in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in Weedon Island Nature Preserve days ago. Jennifer Kveglis reports.

RIVERVIEW, Fla. - Hillsborough County deputies have arrested two suspects in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in Weedon Island Nature Preserve days ago.

The backstory:

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Arnaldo Cintron, 42, stabbed Hiojaira Velez Bonilla, 42, during an altercation at a home on Maybrook Ave. in Riverview.

Deputies say Giselle Bonilla, 37, helped Cintron dispose of the victim's body in the Weedon Island Nature Preserve.

Investigators arrested Cintron and Giselle Bonilla in the 10000 block of Parsons St. on Monday, according to HCSO.

Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

HCSO Chief Deputy Frank Losat previously said the case began just after 9 p.m. last Friday, when a man showed up at the District Two office on Falkenberg Rd. and told a deputy he knew where to find a body in Pinellas County.

Losat said the man also disclosed that evidence had been left at other locations throughout Hillsborough County.

What they're saying:

"This was a brutal act of violence followed by a callous attempt to cover it up," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "No life should ever be taken in such a senseless manner, and no attempt to conceal a crime will shield those responsible from justice. Our detectives were relentless, ensuring both individuals were held accountable, and they will now face the full weight of the law."

Dig deeper:

Both suspects made their first appearances in court on Tuesday. Cintron was granted no bond, and his pre-trial detention hearing is set for Monday at 10 a.m. 

Santiago-Bonilla's defense asked the state for a reduced bond touting her family's ties to the community. 

"Your honor, Ms. Santiago-Bonilla has resided in Hillsborough County her whole life," he said. "She has the majority of her family residing here as well. She works at a cleaning business, earning $900 a week. She has no other sources of income and cannot afford any bond."

The judge noted she was a risk to the community and witnesses. 

"But given the nature and circumstances, deviation from law enforcement, the planning involved in this particular case and the overall risk of physical harm, and my concerns about appearance in court taken into account her ties to the community, I'm going to set substantial bail in these cases," the judge said. 

 She was ultimately granted a $200,000 bond and no contact with the Riverview residence and witness.

Arnaldo Cintron faces the following charges:

• Second-degree murder with a weapon
• Unlawfully hold or move a dead human body in unapproved conditions
• Tampering with physical evidence
• Tampering with a witness

Giselle Bonilla faces the following charges:

• Tampering with physical evidence
• Unlawfully hold or move a dead human body in unapproved conditions
• Tampering with a witness
• Accessory after the fact