By fighting back, girl helps forensic investigators to identify suspect in her Miami murder

MIAMI – DNA evidence took center stage on Tuesday afternoon during the trial of a man who stands accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s daughter nearly nine years ago in Miami.

The skin under 11-year-old Martha Guzman’s fingernails indicated that she had fought back and by scratching her killer she had helped investigators to identify him as Miguel Ruiz Lobo, according to prosecutors.

“That foreign male DNA profile from the fingernail clippings matches the DNA profile from Miguel Ruiz,” Sharon Hinez, a forensic investigator, said about the skin under Martha’s fingernails.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Ruiz Lobo, 51, who insists he didn’t kill Martha. His trial for the June 22, 2014 murder in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood began on April 3.

Miguel Ruiz Lobo was arrested in 2014 and is standing trial on Monday for the murder of his ex-girlfriend's 11-year-old daughter. (MDCR)

A woman who lived with Ruiz Lobo also testified on Tuesday. Aracely Andino said she was never going to forget the day when Martha, who she lovingly referred to as “La Chinita,” was killed.

“I screamed and cried, and cried,” Andino said in Spanish about her reaction to the news.

Andino said her son is married to Martha’s older sister. She said that when Martha’s mother, Amaury Albarenga, and Ruiz Lobo broke up, she rented a room to him at her apartment for $400 a month — a decision she would come to regret.

After learning about Martha’s murder, she said she quickly knocked on Ruiz Lobo’s door and told him Martha had been killed. She said the two rushed to the crime scene to meet with Albarenga.

Andino also said that even after she learned that he was a suspect, Ruiz Lobo continued living in her house.

“I didn’t think he would do anything to me,” Andino said in Spanish.

Detectives accused Ruiz Lobo of slashing Martha’s wrists and stabbing her in the neck after obtaining surveillance video showing him arriving at Albarenga’s apartment when Martha was home alone and leaving before Albarenga found her dead.

The jury recently watched the video. Detectives believe it took Ruiz Lobo about 30 minutes to kill Martha. The video shows Ruiz Lobo arriving shortly before 10:30 a.m. and leaving at about 11 a.m. Earlier in the trial, Albarenga testified about the gruesome crime scene through tears.

“She had three cuts in the neck and the knife stuck in her throat,” Albarenga said on April 4 in Spanish.

Amaury Albarenga testified against her ex-boyfriend who stands accused of killing her 11-year-old daughter in 2014 in her apartment in Miami's Little Havana.

Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Laura Adams told the jury during her opening statement that Ruiz Lobo was mad at Martha for asking her mother to break up with him, so he slashed her wrists in an attempt to fool others into thinking that she had committed suicide.

“This was personal,” Adams said.

Ruiz Lobo has been in the custody of Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation since July 21, 2014. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez is presiding over the case.

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About the Authors
Liane Morejon headshot

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.

Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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