Police Search For Alleged Killer Of Elderly Caregiver
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Miami-Dade Police are asking for the public's help to located a 20-year-old man who allegedly beat his elderly caregiver to death last year.
According to our news partners the Miami Herald, Danei Washington Gordon is believed to be in the North Miami Beach or Miramar area.
The former Miramar High School student has been on the run since April when police say he beat and killed Neville Smith, 73, with a metal cooking pot at their home on the 142000 block of Northeast Second Court.
"From what I understand, my dad was making his breakfast and the breakfast was still there. I don't know what would cause someone to do that to a 73-year-old," said Joi Crockett, Smith's daughter.
Recently, Gordon reemerged on social media. According to the paper, authorities had been unable to get a picture of Gordon until he began posting pictures of himself on Facebook.
Since coming to Miami illegally from Jamaica, Gordon and his mother had been living with Smith.
According to the Miami Herald, the day of the incident, Smith allegedly confronted him about his unruly behavior and drug use and threatened to have him deported. Police told the paper, Gordon allegedly grew angry and beat Smith to death.
Smith was a retired Miami-Dade cab driver who had lived in Miami for more than 30 years.
"He was a family man," explained Crockett, adding, "He lived very modestly but he loved his family. If there was something he could do to help his family or close friend he would definitely do that."
Crockett said Smith loved being a grandfather and spending time with her three-year-old son.
Gordon was not related by blood to Smith, but was the son of a half-sister of one of Smith's daughters according to the Herald. Police told the paper, Gordon has a tattoo of a music clef on his right hand.
Crockett urges anyone with information to call police. "I want justice," she said. "It's been over nine months, and for it to be this long, my family doesn't have any closure, no answers to anything."
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call Miami-Dade CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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