A man is facing multiple charges, including second-degree murder and child abuse, after a woman was found dead over the weekend in The Hammocks area of Miami-Dade County.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested 27-year-old Joy Chandra Nath on Sunday after an investigation linked him to the death of 24-year-old Maria Camila Garcia-Molina. Authorities say the disturbing case unfolded after a 3-year-old child was found wandering alone in a residential complex parking lot.
On Saturday, a woman flagged down a deputy and reported that her granddaughter had been discovered walking unsupervised by a neighbor. Deputies said the child appeared to have dried blood on her face and clothing when she was returned to her grandmother’s care. Concerned for the child’s mother, law enforcement launched a search of the area.
Deputies later found Garcia-Molina’s vehicle, where they spotted what appeared to be blood inside and a body hidden under blankets. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and pronounced the woman dead at the scene. The Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Garcia-Molina suffered sharp force injuries to her neck, torso, and upper extremities.
As the investigation continued, authorities learned that Garcia-Molina had left her home earlier that day with her daughter. The victim’s daughter later told investigators that her mother had been with Nath, who she said hit Garcia-Molina in the head before she “went to sleep.”
The victim’s family told deputies that Nath was her ex-boyfriend and had a history of stalking and harassing her. Garcia-Molina reportedly had a restraining order against Nath. The day before her death, a verbal altercation had broken out between Nath and Garcia-Molina at Dolphin Mall, where she had been with her new boyfriend.
On Sunday, deputies spotted Nath’s vehicle returning to the residential complex and conducted a traffic stop. According to an arrest report, Nath initially claimed he was there to return the victim’s belongings. Deputies noted visible scratches on his arms, face, and neck.
During questioning, Nath told investigators he had been with Garcia-Molina and her daughter earlier at a restaurant and later at a Starbucks, where she gave him her purse and cellphone. However, detectives used cellphone data to track the victim’s phone, which traveled from Garcia-Molina’s home to Nath’s residence before returning to the location where her body was discovered — contradicting Nath’s version of events.
Nath was taken into custody and formally charged with murder and child abuse.
