Fidel Lopes murdered his partner, Maria Nemeth, who was 31 years old, on September 20, 2015, when she mentioned her former spouse during an intimate encounter.
Upon the arrival of law enforcement, Fidel Lopez was found sitting next to the lifeless body of Maria Nemeth and he dialed 911 while in an agitated and panicked state.
Sequence of Incidents on the Night of the Killing
Prior to encountering Fidel, Maria had been in an eight-year marriage that was going through a crucial divorce phase. The two met at a nightclub and soon commenced a romantic relationship.
The couple relocated to a new condominium at Colonnade Residences in Sunrise, Florida, just a week prior to the tragic event. On the night of the incident, they consumed a few margaritas before returning home with a bottle of tequila. They improvised a table using cardboard boxes due to the absence of furniture in the apartment.
Fidel was inebriated, and in his intoxicated state, he vandalized the apartment by damaging the closet doors and glass doors. He vented his frustration by punching the wall and claimed that the couple engaged in a sexual act in the closet. According to Lopez, Nemeth passed out after vomiting. Initially, Lopez attributed the death to sexual violence, but the investigators dismissed his claims.
Investigators spent considerable time interrogating individuals before uncovering the truth. Upon hearing Maria utter her ex-husband’s name during the intimate encounter, Lopez became infuriated. Prior to taking Nemeth’s life, he wreaked havoc in the apartment. He used his fists, a hair straightener, and a beer bottle to remove Nemeth’s intestines, asserting that she had mistaken him for her former spouse. He also admitted to attempting to revive Nemeth by splashing water on her face, but she was already deceased.
Upon the police’s arrival, who were summoned to the residence around 3:39 am on September 20, 2015, Lopez was discovered sobbing and pleading for assistance while standing beside Maria’s unclothed body. The police observed an extensive amount of blood on the floor and substantial damage throughout the apartment.
“Numerous lumps of bloody tissue were apparent on the closet floor,” the leading officer added.
Maria was pronounced dead at 4:02 am that same night after rescue personnel searched for any signs of life, but to no avail. Investigators secured the area and interviewed nearby residents who reported hearing a male yelling and loud banging for approximately two hours.
Lopez was apprehended for questioning. During his initial police interview, Lopez confessed that Maria had requested him to insert objects and his arm inside her during rough intercourse. He claimed that after she went to the bathroom to vomit, he later found her struggling to breathe. Lopez was detained at Broward Main Jail while awaiting trial, with frequent visits from family and legal support from a local attorney.
The Legal Proceedings
Fidel Lopez readily confessed to Maria Nemeth’s murder to avoid a death sentence and was charged with first-degree murder and sexual assault. Although he was handed down a 50-year life sentence, the prosecution rejected it and sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or appeal. Lopez expressed regret to Maria Nemeth’s family and thanked the judge for sparing his life.
“I am content with this conviction. I realize that my actions demand retribution, and I must be penalized for taking a life,” Lopez stated, continuing, “I hope that they can forgive me one day.”
Lopez’s mother added, “We extend our sincerest apologies, as we have gone through these tribulations.”
Maria Nemeth’s Uncle Speaks Out
Maria Nemeth’s uncle, Juan Cavezudo, delivered a statement on behalf of the family, expressing that only God could determine Nemeth’s fate. “Summarizing Maria’s life in a few words would be quite challenging,” he stated. “I wish to convey that she was, and will always be, an exemplar of love, dedication, and compassion.”
