MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies have arrested an 18-year-old man accused of stealing a SUV with two children inside in northwest Miami-Dade last month, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said Jorge Casola-Martinez was taken into custody Monday in connection with the Jan. 22 incident, which led to a countywide search for the suspect and the stolen SUV.
Authorities said the children’s mother briefly left her white 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander running and unlocked outside M.C. Cargo Express at 7168 NW 50th St., when Casola-Martinez jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off.
According to deputies, the victim had just picked up a shipment of 175 iPhone 13s, valued at $77,875, from Union Cargo at 8019 NW 68th St. Authorities said the victim was dropping off the package at the cargo facility when Casola-Martinez stole her vehicle with her two children still inside.
A be-on-the-lookout alert was issued immediately, and officers from the Virginia Gardens Police Department located the SUV at the intersection of Northwest 47th Street and 74th Avenue, about a mile away from the initial crime scene, according to an arrest report.
Investigators said the two children — a 2-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl — were found inside unharmed and reunited with their mother, but the box of iPhones was missing.
Surveillance footage from M.C. Cargo Express showed a silver Hyundai Palisade following the victim’s SUV before the theft, according to the report.
Detectives said additional video footage from the same cargo business showed the same Hyundai pulling up beside the victim’s Mitsubishi Outlander moments before the theft occurred.
According to authorities Casola-Martinez was seen exiting the rear passenger seat of the Hyundai and running toward the victim’s vehicle before driving away with it.
Investigators said the traced the Hyundai Palisade to a rental through Turo, an online car-sharing application.
The rental agreement was under the name Jose Yoan Ledoux Rodriguez, but payment records showed Casola-Martinez had used his own credit card to book the vehicle from Jan. 17 to Jan. 23.
Deputies confirmed that GPS tracking data from the rental vehicle confirmed its presence at all key locations tied to the crime, including Union Cargo, M.C. Cargo Express, and the site where the stolen SUV was abandoned
On Feb. 3, while conducting an unrelated auto theft investigation, MDSO detectives said they spotted Casola-Martinez driving a white 2016 Mercedes-Benz near Northwest 87th Avenue, conducted a traffic stop and arrested him without incident.
A search of his car uncovered black shoes and gloves matching those seen in surveillance footage from the Jan. 22 crime, deputies said.
Following his arrest, investigators said Casola-Martinez was transported to the MDSO’s Midwest District Station for questioning.
Authorities said that after being read his Miranda rights, Casola-Martinez admitted his involvement in the crime, though details of his statement were redacted from the publicly released report.
When speaking to Local 10 News last month, MDSO Detective Angel Rodriguez emphasized the importance of never leaving vehicles running and unattended, especially when children are inside.
“It is extremely important to never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running and especially if you have children in the car,” he said.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the case to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Jail records show Casola-Martinez is facing two counts of kidnapping, and one count each of second-degree grand theft, and grand theft of a vehicle.
As of Tuesday, he is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond is listed as “to be set.”