Another Bahamain has been arrested in Florida for a spree of killings and armed robbery.
According to Florida media, 40-year-old Brian Ricardo Bethell, who was born in Grand Bahama, has a criminal record dating back almost 20 years in Florida.
According to reports, the police – claim that Bethell killed on Fridays to get money for the weekend and his Friday night shopping trips.
When taken before the Broward County Court, Bethell was denied bond on Sunday morning and charged in the deaths of Frederick Gunther, 76, and Albert Avenaim, 63.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Bethell confessed to both killings.
According to Fort Lauderdale police, Bethell also confessed to killing Angel Pedro Medina, 41. Charges are expected to be filed soon in this murder.
All three Broward County killings took place in the past three weeks and investigators are looking into whether Bethell may have been involved in more slayings.
Bethell was arrested Friday, about 90 minutes after Gunther was slain and his wallet and cell phone stolen.
According to reports Bethell and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Natasha Edwards, went shopping with Gunther’s stolen credit card at a Wal-Mart in Coral Springs, where he also had gone shopping with stolen credit cards after fatally shooting and robbing Avenaim on February 10 outside a Cuban restaurant in Hallandale Beach.
According to reports Avenaim had just dropped off his wife, Joan, in front of the restaurant so she could put their names on the waiting list. A dark-coloured Nissan Altima blocked Avenaim’s car in. He was shot and his cell phone and wallet were both stolen.
Police say the couple used the victim’s credit card to buy paper towels, clothes and soft drinks.
It is reported that a store employee recognised the couple, followed them to their car and reported their licence plate number. Bethell and his girlfriend were later arrested at their home.
Bethell faces 12 charges, including murder and armed robbery in the deaths of Gunther and Avenaim. Edwards was arrested on being an accessory to armed robbery, credit card fraud and grand theft. They were being held at the Broward County jail.
By PAUL TURNQUEST and CARA BRENNEN Tribune Staff Reporter
