A massive multi-county manhunt concluded with the capture of a suspect less than 24 hours after a brutal stabbing homicide in Lehigh Acres, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno announced in a press conference today.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Leosby De Armas of Hialeah, was apprehended following a vehicle pursuit that spanned Hardy and Polk Counties. He is being charged in Lee County with Second-Degree Murder and Burglary with Battery in connection with the fatal stabbing that occurred on the evening of November 8th.
A Horrifying Attack
Sheriff Marceno detailed the sequence of events that began just before 6 p.m. on November 8th, when deputies were called to the 300 block of Lake Avenue. They discovered a female victim suffering from multiple stab wounds to her chest. She tragically died at the scene.
According to the Sheriff, the victim had traveled to Lehigh Acres with her children to spend time with friends and put up Christmas decorations. The horrific attack unfolded when a resident of the house went to the pantry and noticed the door seemed stuck. Peering through a small opening, the resident saw De Armas glaring at her while holding a knife.
“She screamed in terror as the suspect ran past her and immediately attacked the victim,” Sheriff Marceno stated. “When the victim collapsed, De Armas got on top of her and continued to stab her multiple times. Once he was done, he stood up and ran from the residence, not saying one word.”
Multi-County Pursuit
Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit and analysts from the Real-Time Intelligence Center quickly gathered information, learning De Armas was traveling north through Florida, with his last known whereabouts in Hardy County.
The Sheriff credited the swift, coordinated action of multiple agencies for the rapid arrest. Detectives from the Fugitive Warrants Unit and Advanced Technology Support Unit traveled north and partnered with the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office. Hardy County deputies and detectives located De Armas and his vehicle and attempted to make contact, but he “sped away, leading them on a pursuit through Hardy County into Polk County.”
The pursuit concluded in Polk County with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Grady Judd, and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), whose troopers led De Armas to a crash where he was then taken into custody without further injury to the public or law enforcement.
Charges and Justice
In addition to the murder and burglary charges in Lee County, De Armas will also face charges in Polk County for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing, and reckless disregard to personal property stemming from the pursuit.
Sheriff Marceno emphasized the collaborative effort to bring the suspect to justice. “In less than 24 hours, a violent criminal was taken off the streets,” he said. He added that his office will work closely with State Attorney Amira Fox and her team to ensure De Armas “will not have the opportunity to harm another person ever again.”
When asked about the relationship between the victim and suspect, the Sheriff confirmed both the deceased and the suspect were from Hialeah, Florida, and the suspect was the victim’s ex-partner. He also noted that De Armas had no prior criminal history, making the tragic event even more shocking.
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