MIAMI (WSVN) - An investigation is currently underway after an elderly man was found murdered in his Miami home.
City of Miami Police officers responded to the scene along Southwest 22nd Terrace and 23rd Avenue at around 9 a.m., Wednesday.
Authorities said a woman arrived at the scene and found her 93-year-old father unresponsive.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have revealed that the man may have been stabbed to death.
“The daughter of the victim came to check on her father,” said Miami Police Commander Freddie Cruz. “When she arrived, she discovered his lifeless body. She immediately called 911. Our officers did arrive. As you can see, this is an active scene. It’s a puzzle that we’re putting together, but I can confirm that we are investigating it as a homicide.”
7SkyForce HD hovered over the scene just as police arrived, shutting down the street to begin their investigation.
Teresita Menendez said she lives across the street from the victim’s house, and she thought it was odd when she noticed his dog Whiskers alone the night before.
“He was just walking in front of his house, and then I just opened the little gate and put the dog inside,” she said.
Then Menendez tried reaching out to her neighbor, but she didn’t get a response.
“I called him twice and he didn’t answer the phone,” she said.
Rita Ramirez said she knew her neighbor, whom she identified as Humberto Mijares, well. She said Mijares was an active senior who was very friendly.
“‘Hey! Hello! Good morning, everybody!’ He was very friendly,” Ramirez said.
“He was a very good neighbor, and he was always offering his service to everybody. He was a really nice old guy,” Menendez said.
The only witness to the crime may have been his dog Whiskers, who is now being cared for by a neighbor.
Meanwhile, police have been combing the area for hours, looking for surveillance video, canvassing neighbors and even searching through garbage cans to find something that will lead to the killer.
7News cameras captured the body being removed from the home by the medical examiner, early Thursday morning.
By the afternoon, the scene remained blocked off as investigators made their way in and out of the home.
“Obviously they’re still looking for clues and things to figure out who the perpetrator was,” said nearby resident Maria Capota. “I go out for a walk every morning and you never see this kind of activity. It’s tragic and I can’t even begin to imagine what just happened.”
The victim’s family didn’t give a comment on the investigation.
“We need to put the person or persons responsible for this horrific crime behind bars immediately, so we’re asking anyone to please help.” Cruz said.
If you have any information on this homicide investigation, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.