Alexander Pena, 33, died on December 28, 2014, in Miami after a violent altercation that began during a drug transaction set up at Michael Lopez-Garcia’s residence on July 2, 2012. Pena and an associate, Renell Jones, arranged the deal with Lopez-Garcia; during the meeting Jones stabbed Lopez-Garcia multiple times in the head and back, killing him. Pena and Jones fled, returned their rental vehicle in Jacksonville, then rented another car to travel to Maryland.

Pena was arrested September 17, 2014, and charged with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. Jones was later arrested in Frederick, Maryland, and during an interview with Miami-Dade detectives confessed to involvement; he faced first-degree murder charges and extradition. Both men were ultimately convicted of first-degree felony murder, burglary with an assault or battery, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Pena’s appeal argued the case was circumstantial, but the conviction was upheld based on direct evidence cited by the court, including text message coordination and surveillance placing them at the scene.

Does anyone have additional information about the July 2, 2012 meeting or the movements of the rental vehicles after the incident?