Derek Medina, The Facebook Killer: He Killed His Wife and Shared Photos of Her Lifeless Body on Facebook
.png "Derek Medina, The Facebook Killer: He Killed His Wife and Shared Photos of Her Lifeless Body on Facebook") |
In a crime that shocked South Florida, Derek Medina, a.k.a "The Facebook Killer," fatally shot his wife, Jennifer Alfonso, in their South Miami home in 2013.
After the brutal murder, Medina posted a photo of Alfonso's body on Facebook, followed by a disturbing confession.
Derek Medina and Jennifer Alfonso's relationship was reportedly rocky at the time.
The couple first married in 2010, divorced in 2012, and remarried later that same year.
They lived lived together in a townhouse in South Miami at the time.
Jennifer Alfonso worked as a waitress, and Medina claimed to be a property management supervisor.
Despite outward appearances, those close to the couple confirmed there was trouble.
According to the Neighbors, Derek Medina was described as controlling.
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| Derek Medina and Jennifer Alfonso |
What did Derek Medina Do?
On August 8, 2013, tensions between Medina and Alfonso reached a breaking point.
According to Derek Medina, the couple had an argument which escalated around 10 a.m.
Alfonso allegedly began punching him, prompting Medina to retrieve his firearm from a closet.
The argument moved to the kitchen, where Medina claimed Alfonso grabbed a knife.
He claimed he managed to wrestle away the knife before fatally shooting her multiple times.
However, instead of calling emergency services, Medina posted a photograph of Alfonso’s lifeless body on Facebook with a disturbing caption:
> “I’m going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife. Love you guys, miss you guys. Take care Facebook people. My wife was punching me, and I am not going to stand anymore with the abuse, so I did what I did. I hope you understand me.”
Medina then changed his clothes, confessed to his family, and turned himself in to the police.
Alfonso’s 10-year-old daughter was present in the home during the murder but was unharmed.
Authorities later discovered Alfonso’s body on the kitchen floor, confirming Medina’s account through forensic evidence.
The Arrest and Investigation
Medina was immediately charged with first-degree murder and denied bail.
Defense attorneys claimed Medina acted in self-defense, presenting Alfonso as the aggressor.
They alleged a history of abuse and even cited the presence of "bath salts" in the home as evidence of potential drug-induced aggression.
However, prosecutors dismissed these claims.
They emphasized that Medina shot Alfonso multiple times, paused to take a photograph, and fled the scene without seeking help.
The graphic Facebook post, which remained online for hours before being removed, became a focal point of the case.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle condemned Medina’s actions, stating:
> "No family should ever have to see their daughter killed and then exhibited worldwide on the internet like some macabre trophy to a husband’s anger."
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| Derek Medina and Jennifer Alfonso |
Derek Medina's Sentencing
In November 2015, a jury found Derek Medina guilty of second-degree murder, firing a deadly missile, and child neglect.
He was sentenced to life in prison without parole in January 2016.
Medina’s attempts to appeal his conviction, including claims that evidence of his alleged abuse and Alfonso’s supposed drug use were excluded, were unsuccessful.
An appellate court upheld his sentence in 2018.
They confirmed that the trial court acted appropriately in dismissing irrelevant evidence.
Medina continues to maintain his innocence according to a recent interview with NBC6 from prison:
> “The media has created a monster. I’m not the Facebook Killer. I’m Derek Medina. If I didn’t keep shooting, I would have been killed,” he said
Alfonso’s family decribed her as a loving mother and victim of Medina’s controlling behavior.
Derek Medina’s actions resulted in a life sentence.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Alfonso's legacy lives on as her family continues to advocate against domestic violence, hoping her story serves as a powerful cautionary tale.
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