Manatee County Jury Finds Man Guilty of Stabbing Girlfriend

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

Manatee County Jury Finds Man Guilty of Stabbing Girlfriend

A Manatee County man accused of fatally stabbing his estranged girlfriend in September 2020 has been found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder with a weapon.

Orestes Miguel Figueredo-Ortega, 29, will be sentenced at a later date, according to a news release from the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office announcing the sentencing. The maximum sentence is life in prison.

In 2020, Figueredo-Ortega was dating the victim, Delmy Teyul, 21. However, Manatee County Sheriff's Office officials at the time said Figueredo-Ortega had not been allowed to contact Teyul after a previous arrest in August for domestic violence by strangulation, according to a previous report from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

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Court documents state that on Aug. 15, Figueredo-Ortega and Teyul got into an argument after a party and Figueredo-Ortega grabbed Teyul by the throat, strangling her. Teyul’s brother was able to step in to protect his sister, punching Figueredo-Ortega multiple times. Police were called and determined that Figueredo-Ortega was the primary aggressor, according to court documents.

He was arrested and taken to jail, where he was later released on bail. The press release states that he was on felony probation in Miami-Dade County when the murder occurred.

On September 17, 2020, Figueredo-Ortega, then 25, decided to skip work to see what Teyul was doing, according to the press release. The two men got into an argument that escalated when Figueredo-Ortega tried to strangle Teyul.

As Teyul managed to free herself, Figueredo-Ortega grabbed a knife and stabbed Teyul, killing her, the statement said. Figueredo-Ortega fled the home, leaving Teyul's infant child behind.

Police arrested Figueredo-Ortega in Miami later the same day after identifying him as a suspect, according to previous reports.

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Assistant District Attorney Charlie Lawrence, the lead prosecutor in the case, said the prosecution was pleased with the jury's verdict and held Figueredo-Ortega accountable for his brutal attack.

“Domestic violence is a widespread problem in our community, and this case is a heartbreaking example,” Lawerence said. “The quick response of law enforcement and their investigative techniques allowed the defendant to be apprehended in time. Delmy Teyul and her family have received justice for her senseless death.”

The domestic violence strangulation case is still pending in court, according to court records. A trial was scheduled for the court period beginning July 22, but it was postponed. A case management hearing is scheduled for October.

Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work by making a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at [email protected], or on X: @GabrielaSzyman3.

Lina Portman

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