MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL — A 79-year-old man was arrested Friday on charges of stabbing his wife and stepson to death at their northwest Miami-Dade townhome following a dispute over stolen money.
Jose Vidal faces two counts of second-degree murder with a weapon after investigators say he killed the victims on April 18, then waited two days before riding his bicycle six miles to a hospital with a fabricated story about being attacked. The Spanish-born suspect appeared in bond court Saturday where a judge ordered him held without bond. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office detectives say surveillance video and physical evidence contradicted Vidal’s claims that unknown assailants committed the murders.
The killings occurred at the Antigua at Country Club of Miami townhomes in the 17500 block of Northwest 67th Place, according to the arrest report. Investigators determined Vidal got into an argument with his stepson, who accused him of stealing a large amount of money and planned to evict Vidal from the home they shared. The dispute escalated into a physical fight that turned deadly when Vidal allegedly stabbed both victims. Two days later, on April 20, Vidal rode his bicycle to Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, telling staff he had been attacked by two men who stabbed him and knocked him unconscious. He claimed he awoke the next day to find his relatives dead and called 911, but chose not to wait for emergency crews before riding to the hospital.
Detectives quickly unraveled Vidal’s account through surveillance footage and forensic evidence. Video showed Vidal wearing specific sandals that matched dried bloody shoe prints found next to the victims’ bodies and throughout the apartment, according to the arrest report. The sandals were later discovered in the kitchen, cleaned but still containing traces of blood. Additional surveillance captured Vidal making several trips to a nearby dumpster on April 18, carrying full trash bags. Crucially, investigators found no video evidence of anyone matching the descriptions of the supposed attackers Vidal described. When transferred to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood for treatment, medical staff found Vidal had only a superficial cut to his abdomen and no head injury consistent with being knocked unconscious.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about financial disputes within families leading to violence. Miami-Dade County has seen several cases in recent years where money disagreements between relatives escalated to deadly confrontations. Family members told investigators that on April 18, the stepson had informed them about Vidal’s planned eviction due to the theft allegations. Court records show Vidal had been living in the townhome with his wife and stepson before the fatal encounter. The victims’ identities have not been publicly released by authorities, who cited ongoing notification of extended family members.
Prosecutors have formally filed the murder charges against Vidal, who could face decades in prison if convicted. The case will now proceed through the Miami-Dade County court system, with arraignment proceedings expected in the coming weeks. Investigators continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses as they build their case. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has not indicated whether they are seeking additional charges related to evidence tampering or filing false police reports. Defense attorneys have not yet entered pleas on Vidal’s behalf or made public statements about the charges.
Perhaps most telling to investigators was surveillance video showing Vidal stopping at a gas station during his bicycle ride to the hospital to purchase lottery tickets, behavior they found inconsistent with someone who had just discovered murdered family members. When detectives interviewed Vidal on Friday, he admitted to getting into a fight with his stepson about stealing money and confirmed he was being evicted from the apartment. The admission contradicted his earlier claims of being an innocent victim of a random attack. Neighbors at the Antigua at Country Club of Miami complex expressed shock at the violence in their typically quiet community.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to resolve remaining details about the timeline and motive. Vidal remains in Miami-Dade County jail without bond pending his next court appearance, which has not yet been scheduled.
