Sanel Saint Simon, the suspect in the disappearance of 16-year-old Alexandria Chery, was granted two $100,000 bonds in a Orlando, FL courtroom today, according to Jeff Weiner of the Orlando Sentinel. Prosecutors had asked for a $500,000 bond.
Simon, 43, is the longtime boyfriend of Alex’s mother. He was arrested Wednesday, July 30, and charged with felony obstruction, News13 reports. Police also charged Simon with giving false statements and attempting to destroy evidence.
Alex’s mother told police she last saw Alex at her Orlando apartment on Monday, July 28. She said she arrived home from work later that evening to find Alex missing, blood spatter in the apartment and a strong smell of bleach under her daughter’s bed.
Police also found a pair of Simon’s underwear beneath the teen’s bed.
A body found in Osceola County on Friday, Aug. 1, is tentatively identified as Alexandria. Police are awaiting results of an autopsy to make a final identification.
Prosecutors said Saint Simon led police on a “wild goose chase,” giving “horrific” false statements to detectives. According to Weiner, the judge expressed concern that Saint Simon, a Haitian native, may be a flight risk.
Police located a black Pontiac Grand Am that Saint Simon had been driving. The car was parked with the hazard lights on near the area where Alex’s body was found. Police found a spot of blood in the back seat.
According to Weiner, Saint Simon was caught on camera in an interview room telling his uncle to lie about the car.
“He’s been untruthful about much of what he’s said at this point,” said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings at a press conference last week. “Usually when people use bleach they’re trying to clean up something and certainly that is the case here,” he said.
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