Man Charged In FSU Professor's Murder Faces Judge
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A man arrested in connection to the murder of a Florida State University law professor in 2014 went before a Broward judge Thursday morning.
Sigfredo Garcia told the judge he had no idea he was a suspect.
"I didn't know I needed a lawyer until yesterday," he told the judge.
"You didn't know you had a warrant out for murder?" the judge replied.
"No mam," he said.
Garcia, 34, was arrested Wednesday night on Hallandale Beach Blvd. near I-95.
He's facing a murder charge from nearby two years ago in Tallahassee when FSU Professor Dan Markel was founded shot in his garage.
A neighbor called 911 after hearing gunshots and raced over. He said Markel, 41, had a gunshot wound to the head and was still in his car.
"The driver's side window is all bashed in and he's got blood all over his head," the 911 caller was heard saying.
A neighbor who told police he heard a loud bang and saw a light-colored car speeding away.
Police released a photo of a Toyota Prius they believe belonged to a suspect.
Markel's friends and colleagues say he was a celebrated law professor and legal blogger.
Sources tell the Tallahassee Democrat that there may be several other suspects on the run.
This may have been a case of murder for hire, though police would not confirm.
"This is still an active criminal investigation. In order not to jeopardize this ongoing investigation, the probable cause has been sealed by Judge Sjostrom," Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo said.
In fact, police are saying very little – only that Garcia is under arrest and that they have followed up on many leads since the killing.
"We are not finished yet. Once this investigation has reached its conclusions, we will release all documents in accordance with state law," DeLeo said.
Garcia is facing a drug possession charge from his arrest in Hallandale Beach.
He has a criminal history, according to Miami-Dade County records, that includes strong-arm robbery, burglary, drugs and concealed weapons violations.
Garcia is being held in the Broward County Jail with no bond. He will be sent back up to Tallahassee to face the murder charge.
