Miami murder suspect arrested in Nairobi after 15 years in hiding

Nicolas Soares, 34, was flown back to the United States and appeared in South Florida court on Thursday morning.

Police in Miami have charged him with second-degree murder and armed robbery in relation to a 2010 shooting that killed one man.

The case began in September 2010, when Soares, then 19, allegedly went to Herbert Caniza's home with the intention of robbing him of cash and marijuana.

According to investigators, when Caniza opened the door, Soares shot him in the chest before fleeing.

Detectives later discovered that Soares had been struggling financially and planned the robbery as a way to obtain money and drugs to resell.

A witness reportedly confirmed the plan, including details of how Soares got the weapon used in the fatal shooting.

According to police documents, Soares’ mother told investigators that her son contacted her shortly after the incident, saying his life was in danger and he needed to “leave urgently.” She allegedly arranged for him to travel to Brazil to stay with relatives.

An arrest warrant was issued in March this year, but it was only after coordinated efforts between Miami police and federal authorities that Soares was traced to Nairobi, Kenya, where he was finally apprehended.

Following his extradition, Soares was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, where he is currently being held without bond.

Authorities in both the U.S. and Kenya have not disclosed further details about his time in East Africa or how long he had been in the region before his arrest.