Ricardo Calderon: Man, 66, wanted for murder in 1987 arrested after returning to South Florida
MIAMI-DADE, SOUTH FLORIDA: A 66-year-old man was apprehended by Miami-Dade police at the Miami International Airport on Wednesday night in connection with a 1987 murder investigation after more than three decades on the run. Ricardo Calderon, a citizen of Venezuela, was detained on first-degree murder and abduction charges for his suspected role in Flavio Castellanos' shooting death.
Castellanos and another guy acted as brokers in a 17-kilogram cocaine trade on August 18, 1987, according to a warrant filed in 1987 by Detective Pat Diaz, who then worked in the murder division of the Metro-Dade Police Department reported Local 10. Calderon was wanted in connection with the killing of Castellanos, whose bullet-riddled body was found in the area of Northwest 117th Avenue and 22nd Street on Aug 20, 1987. The deal, outlets reported was never completed, and the cocaine was stolen by the buyers.
READ MORE
The cocaine was provided by Calderon and an accomplice, identified only by the last name "Zinguer," to purchasers organized by Castellanos. Diaz penned. The cocaine as per the report was being sold by a different partner who was simply given the last name "Ortiz." The purchasers allegedly stole the cocaine after Ortiz transported it to Fort Lauderdale to finalize the transaction, according to the police report as seen by Local.
According to the report, Calderon and Zinguer were "mad" over the cocaine's disappearance and accused Castellanos and his colleague. The two males were subsequently taken to a residence in southwest Dade by Calderon and his accomplices for interrogation, according to Diaz. The victims were brought to a house in Fort Lauderdale where, in accordance with the police, they were separated into different rooms and further questioned while being bound with a vacuum cleaner cable.
Castellanos and the other broker were put into Calderon's van and driven back to Miami-Dade on Aug 19, 1987, the warrant said as per NBC Miami. Back in the van Castellanos and his companion overheard Calderon and Zinguer discussing a plan of executing them. The survivor said that after dropping off Calderon, Castellanos got out of the van and assaulted Zinguer. The other broker heard a gunshot and saw Castellanos had been shot and that Zinguer had a firearm in his hand. He was able to escape the van without being shot as per the arrest warrant obtained by the outlet.
The body of Castellanos was discovered the next day, on August 20. Zinguer and Calderon escaped to Venezuela the next day, on August 21, according to the warrant. According to Miami-Dade Police, Calderon flew to Miami from Venezuela on his own will on Wednesday and was tagged for an outstanding warrant when going through Immigration. According to records, Calderon was put into the Miami-Dade County jail and was being detained without bond on Thursday.
He appeared briefly in bail court on Thursday and was instructed to return on Friday. Calderon was residing in Caracas when police issued the warrant on Sept 23, 1987. 35 years later, he was being held without bond in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. As of Thursday afternoon, it wasn’t clear whether any others had been arrested or convicted for their involvement in the case, the outlet shared.