Hinso Estriplet, a 46-year-old self-employed taxi driver from Lehigh Acres, FL, was tragically killed on April 7, 2018. Estriplet, who was of Haitian descent, was found dead in his cab at the intersection of 31st Street West and Ruth Avenue North. He had been shot multiple times, and his vehicle had crashed into the brush on an unpaved road. Estriplet's death was the result of a planned robbery that escalated into a fatal shooting.
The investigation into Estriplet's death led to the
arrest of three individuals: 20-year-old Ricky Ligonde, 16-year-old Epimenio Leal, and 13-year-old Angel Arellano. Ligonde was arrested on April 12, 2018, and charged with second-degree murder. He admitted to being aware of the planned robbery and driving the vehicle used in the crime, but he denied being the shooter. Ligonde's role in the crime earned him $40, and he was later sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Leal and Arellano were arrested on April 9, 2018, during an unrelated traffic stop where numerous firearms were found. These weapons were later matched to those used in Estriplet's murder. Both teens were initially charged with second-degree murder, but the charges were elevated to first-degree murder due to the circumstances of the crime. In court, it was revealed that Leal and Arellano were the shooters, and DNA evidence, including the victim's blood on Leal's jeans, tied them to the crime. Both teens were sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading no contest to first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm.
The case against the suspects was built on a combination of text messages, eyewitness accounts, and forensic evidence. Estriplet had been exchanging text messages with a phone number linked to Leal shortly before his death. Additionally, a woman who received money stolen from Estriplet was one of the main witnesses against the suspects. Despite the defense's arguments that the evidence was circumstantial and the witness's statements were self-serving, the court found the evidence sufficient to convict the suspects.
Estriplet's death was a significant loss to his family and the community. He was described as a hardworking individual who did not seek trouble. His ex-wife, Francesca Canal, expressed her sorrow over his death, noting that he was a nice person who had come to the United States from Haiti and worked manual labor jobs before becoming a taxi driver. The case highlighted the senseless violence that can arise from criminal activities and the impact it has on the victims' families and communities.
