Defense: "Facebook killer" victim may have been on drugs

MIAMI - Attorneys for a Florida man accused of killing his wife and then posting pictures of her body and a confession on Facebook filed a motion this week indicating that the wife may have been under the influence of bath salts, a synthetic drug, when she was killed, reports CBS Miami.

Derek Medina’s attorneys filed a motion Tuesday which indicated that bath salts were found inside the couple’s South Miami home in a jar labeled as garlic supplements.

“The defense’s independent lab confirmed that the capsules are Alpha PVP, commonly known as synthetic ecstasy,” according to the defense motion.

The defense now wants to do testing to determine whether Jennifer Alfonso, 26, was under the influence of illegal drugs at the time of her August 2013 death. The prosecutor told a judge Wednesday that the state needed more time to prepare for this new motion. 

Bath salts are a synthetic drug made of legal chemicals that mimic the effects of cocaine, amphetamines and other illegal stimulants. The drug is powerful and mind-altering and has been linked to bizarre and violent behavior across the county, according to the Associated Press.

Saam Zangenehm, one of Medina’s attorneys, said that if they can prove Alfonso was on drugs at the time of her death, it could be “substantial” in the outcome of the case, reports CBS Miami.

“I think the judge is going to have to grant our motion to give us an opportunity to do some independent testing,” said Zangeneh.

Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek the death penalty if Medina is convicted.

Medina is being held without bail.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 17.