Alleged Killer Wore Woman’s Wig as She Lay Dying, Forced Boyfriend to Wear Her Clothes and Hide Body: Police

A Florida man says he witnessed his girlfriend being stabbed to death before the suspected killer forced him to disguise himself in her clothing and wig.

The victim, 42-year-old Hiojaira Velez Bonilla, was killed inside her Riverview, Fla., home, according to an Aug. 19 statement from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities arrested Arnaldo Cintron, 42, on multiple charges, including murder, while his girlfriend Giselle Santiago Bonilla, 37, was charged with witness tampering and other related offenses.

Hiojaira’s boyfriend, Elga Davis II, alerted authorities to the crime on Aug. 15.

According to police and Davis’ testimony in court on Monday, Aug. 25, Cintron allegedly forced him to help conceal Hiojaira’s body. FOX 13, the Miami Herald, and WFLA all reported on the case.

Davis further claimed Cintron dressed himself in Hiojaira’s wig and clothing and, at one point, forced Davis to wear her clothes as well, the Miami Herald reported, citing authorities.

The sheriff’s office said the fatal stabbing followed an argument between Cintron and Hiojaira.

Known as “Joy” to her loved ones, Hiojaira was a mother of two — and Giselle’s cousin.

On the night of the attack, Hiojaira reportedly confronted Cintron for not contributing to bills or household chores after moving into her home with Giselle, according to WFLA.

“I’m sitting there, and the next thing I know I hear somebody getting hit in the throat, and they made that… ughk sound,” Davis, 29, testified in court. “And then I tried to go run over there and then I see her on the floor, like crazy dance.”

Davis said Cintron threatened to kill Hiojaira’s son — who was inside the home at the time — if he refused to help clean up and move her body into a box.

Police later found Hiojaira’s body after Davis came forward.

Her family described her as someone devoted to those she loved.

“She was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, and friend whose life was stolen far too soon,” relatives wrote in a GoFundMe organized to help her teenage sons. “She was their rock, their safe place, and their biggest supporter.”

Cintron has been charged with second-degree murder, while Giselle faces charges of accessory after the fact. The sheriff’s office also said both face additional counts of unlawfully moving a corpse, tampering with evidence, and witness tampering.

Online court records did not list plea or attorney information for either Cintron or Giselle.