Ernesto M. Puentes, 45, was found dead floating in Biscayne Bay beneath the William Powell Bridge along the Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami on April 19, 2010. A passerby discovered the body at about 9:40 a.m. Authorities ruled the death a homicide but released limited information about the exact cause of death.

Puentes had a lengthy criminal history spanning more than a decade, with prior charges including robbery, kidnapping, armed burglary and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Despite that record, some accounts describe him as a devoted father of two who struggled to provide for his children amid a difficult upbringing and limited family support. His body was one of several floating corpses found in Miami that week, which heightened community alarm. The Miami Police Department is handling the investigation; no specific suspects have been identified and the case remains open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers.