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Suspect bought gas, stood next to burning truck before firefighters found Miami-Dade man dead, police say

Detectives identify 35-year-old homeless man as Cutler Bay murder suspect

CUTLER BAY, Fla. – Detectives arrested a 35-year-old man early Friday morning after firefighters found a murder victim inside a burning Ford F250 pickup truck on Thursday afternoon in Cutler Bay.

Randall Lautzenheiser, who is homeless, used $5 to buy a can of beer and gasoline at a nearby gas station and a witness saw him running away from the parked pickup truck during the fire on Thursday, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

“I am going to be on CNN tonight,” Lautzenheiser said, according to a witness, police reported.

Lautzenheiser and the victim — who firefighters found dead in the driver’s seat of the truck in the area of Old Cutler Road and Southwest 92 Avenue — had allegedly been arguing. Police officers found Lautzenheiser shirtless and with burn marks on his arms, according to the arrest form.

Randall Lautzenheiser is facing a first-degree murder charge on Friday in Miami-Dade County. (MDCR)

Lautzenheiser is facing charges of first-degree murder and arson.

Court records show Lautzenheiser has an arrest record in Miami-Dade. In 2015, he was arrested for theft and loitering in Cutler Bay. There was a marijuana possession case in 2013 in Miami-Dade.

Detectives were asking anyone with information about the case to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

This is a developing story. Local 10 Assignment Desk Editor Joyce Grace Ortega contributed to this report.


About the Authors
Annaliese Garcia headshot

Annaliese Garcia joined Local 10 News in January 2020. Born and raised in Miami, she graduated from the University of Miami, where she studied broadcast journalism. She began her career at Univision. Before arriving at Local 10, she was with NBC2 (WBBH-TV) covering Southwest Florida. She's glad to be back in Miami!

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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