No one would have imagined that one disturbing Facebook post would develop into a nationally covered crime scene and murder confession. From a happy couple building a home together to two people going through the roughest patches of their lives, Derek Medina and Jennifer Alfonso made news headlines across the country after a single post sent their Facebook friends and family into a tizzy.
How It All Began
Carolyn’s day started out normal, just as any other day would. Scrolling through her Facebook newsfeed, she quickly scanned the daily happenings of her friends and family. Just moments into her browsing she noticed a disturbing post from her son-in-law, Derek.
The Post
“I’m going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife love you guys miss you guys takecare Facebook people you will see me in the news” my wife was punching me and I am not going to stand anymore with the abuse so I did what I did I hope you understand me”
A Worried Mother
Disturbed by the severity of the statement, Carolyn was quick to take action and find out exactly what was going on with Derek. Worried for her son-in-law's sanity and her daughter's safety, Carolyn could have never imagined what would happen next.
Derek & Jennifer
Carolyn’s daughter Jennifer married Derek despite their differences and difficulties. The two could not have described their relationship as perfect by any means, but having endured tough times together and raising Jennifer’s daughter together, the two were in it for the long haul. Or so everyone thought.
Trouble in Paradise
The two may have built a home together and battled hard times, but that did not mean the arguing and fighting ever came to a halt. The morning Derek posted on Facebook the two had gotten into an altercation over a small misunderstanding.
Trouble Turns to Violence
According to Derek, Jennifer had been throwing towels and makeup bottles at him, eventually using her fists to express her anger. After the fight simmered, Jennifer texted her friend that he “felt like ripping his face off.”
Torn Between Decisions
With all of the miscommunication and frequent angry outbursts, Jennifer definitely thought about leaving her husband. She would even vent to her friends about how she wanted to make things work, but Derek wasn’t putting in any effort to make their marriage last.
A Grave Promise
At the mention of thinking of leaving him, Derek threatened to kill Jennifer if she ever left him. Blinded by love and hope for things to heal, Jennifer stayed with Derek.
The Violence Escalates
Later on that same day, Jennifer returned home only to be greeted by another argument. This time the two exchanged heated words in their kitchen. The argument escalated so forcefully that Jennifer ended up pulling a knife on her husband. In an attempt to disarm his wife, Derek wrestled the weapon out of his wife’s hands. Moments later he dashed away.
A Nasty Turn
Escaping to another room to locate his loaded gun, Derek returned to his wife ready to make final threats. Upon seeing the gun in his hands, Jennifer became so overwhelmed with emotion that she again resorted to pummeling her husband with her fists. According to Derek, “she was trying to take me out.”
Shots Fired
It took no time for Derek to make good on his word. He unloaded several bullets into Jennifer’s body, killing his wife instantly.
Another Post Goes to Facebook
Though there were security cameras that recorded the entire crime scene, Derek pulled out his own cell phone camera to photograph his wife’s lifeless body. He took to Facebook to post his last post ever, the photo of Jennifer’s corpse titled “RIP Jennifer Alfonso.”
Turning Himself In
Derek then hopped in his car and drove to his local police station to turn himself in, alleging that Jennifer had been abusing him and he committed the crime in an act of self-defense.
Police Take Action
Soon after his confession, a squad of policemen and women showed up to the crime scene. Luckily Jennifer’s 10-year-old daughter was found unharmed, but Jennifer’s body was found slumped and bleeding out.
Derek Cries Self-Defense
Piecing together Derek’s self-defense story, police began to find flaws. Eight shots had hit Jennifer’s body and pierced her through a downward position which could only indicate that Jennifer must have been on her knees at the time of the first gunshot.
Medina Faces Sentencing
33-year-old Medina underwent a two-week trial where a jury reached their verdict in a six-hour span. Guilty of murdering his wife and planning her execution, Derek faced life in prison.
Spared
Derek was given 25 years in prison for the 2nd-degree murder of his wife. Many, including Jennifer’s mother Carolyn, were shocked he was spared from a life sentence. Jennifer’s friends and family wept in the courthouse upon Derek’s sentencing.
A Statement is Released
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle made a statement about the case for the media saying “No family should ever have to see their daughter killed and then exhibited worldwide on the Internet like some macabre trophy to a husband’s anger as was Jennifer Alfonso… Derek Medina coldly murdered his wife to heal his own injured ego…”
Two Lives Gone
During a 2013 court appearance, Medina was finally served a life sentence in prison for second-degree murder. Though he predicted his own fate in his grisly Facebook post, Medina believed there was something larger going on.
”I will be suing this world”
Despite his confession and his jury's verdict, Medina believed himself innocent. During his final hearing, he stated ”I did not get a fair trial. I will be taking action. I will be suing, and I want Barack Obama, president of the United of the States of America, to focus on corruption.”
Article Writer
Let us introduce you to the Listicle Liege, the Article Aficionado, the one and only Nathan. Since creating his first photo collage at the age of five with images clipped from his mom’s Chatelaine magazines (all of them), it’s been nearly impossible to stem this one’s tide of visual learning. Be it the annals of history or the latest celeb gossip, Nathan has probably researched it, likely already has a folder of relevant photos on his desktop, and definitely learned a lot of interesting facts to go with those images. Whereas most well-read adults have bookshelves full of classic literature, Nathan’s stacks are composed of National Geographic and TIME special editions and a curated section of first-grade readers (for inspiration). If you prefer picture books to wordy novels, listicles by Nathan are right up your alley.
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