judge

Police Video Shows Teen Girl Arrested in Boy's Murder in Homestead

One of the students charged in the murder of a teen near a Homestead school became emotional and denied participating in the killing in a police video obtained Wednesday.

Desiray Strickland has been behind bars for more than a year since her arrest in the murder of 17-year-old Jose Amaya-Guardado, who was found slain near the Homestead Job Corps Center two summers ago.

Police say Guardado was killed with a machete and then buried in a shallow grave by Strickland and four other classmates.

The 2-hour video shows the 19-year-old Strickland in a Miami-Dade Police interrogation room before she was booked into jail. A detective asks repeatedly for Strickland to explain her involvement in the killing.

"I told you you're under arrest," the detective says.

"I haven't done anything though. I haven't done anything I promise, I didn't do nothing," Strickland replied.

Strickland was alone for much of the video. She made noise, kicked a chair and appeared to try to take her shackles off. Her father was in the building but police wouldn't let her talk to him.

Strickland's attorney says she denies any wrongdoing in Guardado's death.

"She denied any participation in the crime at the Job Corps," attorney Scott Sakin said. "It was very unusual to see such unprofessional treatment in the modern police world, knowing it was on video. At one point she wanted to talk to a lawyer, she doesn't want to speak to the police. The police keep her there for hours and hours."

In the video, police said Strickland etched a message for them into the desk, reading "Police can go to hell."

Strickland went before a judge last year, and she and her co-defendants could face the death penalty. A hearing will be held next month as she seeks bond.

Contact Us