Police Arrest Two Suspects In Gables Estates Home Invasion
CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) – Two people have been arrested as suspects in the case of a home invasion in the exclusive community of Gables Estates. Police believe the act was not random, that the suspects know the victim.
"This was not a random act," said Coral Gables Police Sergeant and spokesman Dean Wellinghoff.
"We can put the community at ease that there is no home invader on the loose."
Wellinghoff told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that the masked gunman in this case had worked for
the victim's husband, who runs Ruffe Systems, a medical billing servicing provider in Coral Gables.
"That's the immediate connection," said Wellinghoff. "The suspect works for the victim's husband."
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Wellinghoff also released surveillance tape showing the suspect inside the mansion at the time of the crime and released the call for help to 911 by the victim, Linda Ruffe.
"I've been robbed. They took my car," says Ruffe in a raspy voice telling the dispatcher that she has laryngitis. "They taped my hands and they taped my face and my legs."
On the call, she sounds frightened, telling the dispatcher, "He had a mask. I can't talk right now. I'm in the
garage" The dispatcher assures her that police units are on their way.
Coral Gables Police arrested Zuhdi Musa, 47, and Rosa Maria Musa, 45, late Wednesday evening in connection with a home invasion that occurred at multi-million dollar home at 11:30 p.m. on September 26.
The two drove into the Gables Estates community in Coral Gables in an Orange Toyota Scion, according to the police report.
They drove to 110 Arvida Parkway around 11 p.m. and approached the front door without the victim's consent, as stated in the police report.
Armed, one of the suspects went to the second floor of the home and searched two dresser drawers in the master bedroom. The suspect then, according to the report, went downstairs billiard room where he confronted the home owner with a gun.
The suspect ordered the victim to the ground , and as written in the police report, she complied in fear for her life.
"She was in fear for her life so she complied with his demands," said Wellinghoff. "Mr. Musa has not confessed but his wife implicated both of them in the crimes. This could have been a deadly situation."
The victim's hands were tied behind her back with flex ties and her legs bound together. Her mouth, according to authorities, was covered with masking tape.
The suspect took the victim's necklace and earrings, according to the arrest affidavit, both of which she was wearing at the time, valued at $400,000. The suspect proceeded to steal approximately $4,000 from her purse along with the keys to her 2011 Aston Martin, valued at $200,000.
The suspect went to the garage where he attempted to start the car, according to police, but the car would not start. The suspect returned to the victim, who was still tied up, to ask how to start the car, according to the arrest affidavit.
The suspect left the home at approximately 11:35 pm.
Both suspects were arrested at their home late Wednesday night and have been charged with armed burglary with an assault or battery and armed grand theft.
In bond court, Musa said he worked in marketing and earned about $50,000 a year. But he also said he was broke and owed money on a car. He refused to talk about the case.
He was held without bond and ordered to stay away from Ruffe.
D'Oench also spoke with Ruffe by telephone, who said she was too upset to say anything on camera right now. CBS4 also reached out to her husband Steven.But he did not return our calls.
Police said Musa had been arrested before for grand theft.
Wellinghoff said the jewelry has not been recovered.
