Cheryl Lee Ray, a 37-year-old Black woman, was tragically murdered on January 7, 1996, in Miami, Florida. Her death was part of a series of killings committed by Francisco del Junco, a Cuban immigrant who had arrived in the United States during the 1980 Mariel boat lift. Del Junco, a dishwasher at Dan Marino's American Sports Bar and Grill in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood, was later arrested and confessed to the murders of four women, including Cheryl Lee Ray. His victims, all Black women struggling with drug addiction, were found beaten, burned, and partially clothed in or near Miami's inner city.
The investigation into Cheryl Lee Ray's murder was extensive, with authorities interviewing over 500 people in an attempt to track down the perpetrator. Initially, law enforcement focused on a suspect known only as 'Dread,' named for his distinctive dreadlocked hairstyle. However, the breakthrough in the case came when a woman who had been assaulted by Del Junco nine months earlier spotted him and flagged down a patrol car. This led to his arrest and subsequent confession. During his interrogation, Del Junco detailed his crimes, even reenacting the murders at the crime scenes for investigators.
Despite his confession, authorities continued searching for 'Dread,' believing he might have witnessed one of the killings. Del Junco was ultimately charged with the murders of Cheryl Lee Ray, Vida Hicks Diane Helms and Janice Cox. His killing spree spanned from August 1995 to March 1996. In 2002, he was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes.
