A Florida landscaper accused of murdering the mother of his young child had tried to persuade people she was missing because she was picked up by ICE, according to authorities.

Mexican native Saul Garcia Gonzalez, 40, came up with the ruse after he allegedly shot Nerida Martel, 37, in the head and dumped her body in a Miami canal last month, according to a police report obtained by WPLG .

Realizing her friends and family would be panicked about her whereabouts, he told them “that he believed the victim was possibly in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the report said.

Saul Garcia Gonzalez, 40, was charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday. Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office

However, when Martel’s name did not show up in custody records, friends persuaded him to r

See Full Page