Miami Murder Suspect is Captured in Connecticut by U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force

Miami, FL - United States Marshal Amos Rojas Jr. and Miami Dade Police Department (MDPD) Director J.D. Patterson, have announced the arrest of Danei Washington Gordon. The 21-year old Jamaican national, whose legal status in the U.S. has not been confirmed, was captured last Wednesday in Hartford, Connecticut by U.S. Marshals and City of Hartford Police officers.

Gordon is suspected of using a metal cooking pot to bludgeon his elderly caregiver, 73-year old Neville Smith, in the kitchen of Smith’s home on April 5, 2013. Miami Dade Police homicide detectives determined that Gordon had been staying in the home with Smith about the time the murder occurred.

On 07/01/2013, MDPD’s Homicide Bureau issued an arrest warrant for Gordon, charging him with one count of Second Degree Murder with a Deadly Weapon. By that time, Gordon is believed to have fled the South Florida area.

In April 2014, the Homicide Bureau requested the assistance of the Miami Division of the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force. Investigative leads were sent to Jamaica, to Orlando, Florida and most recently to Hartford, Connecticut.

Within the last week, the U.S. Marshals fugitive investigation determined that Gordon was hiding in the Hartford area. Deputy Marshals in Connecticut began conducting surveillance on the north side of Hartford, which has a large Jamaican population.

On 08/19/2015 at approximately 2:00 pm, Deputy Marshals spotted Gordon riding a bicycle on Garden Street in Hartford. A Deputy Marshal positively identified him from a music clef tattooed on his right hand. After following him for some three-miles, the marshals, with the assistance of the Hartford Police, took him into custody.

Gordon had never been arrested in the United States; therefore no fingerprints were on file with any police department for identification purposes. In initial questioning, he repeatedly gave a fake name. However, he was identified by numerous tattoos. The tattoo that most positively confirmed that he was the wanted murder suspect, was the tattoo of his name “Danei” on his body.

Gordon was transported to the Hartford Correctional Facility and is awaiting extradition to Miami. For more information on the homicide investigation, please contact the MDPD Media Relations at 305 471-1900.

This successful investigation and arrest has been the combined efforts of the Miami Dade Police Department Homicide Bureau, the Hartford Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The United States Marshals Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force – Miami Division is supported by the Miami Dade Police Department, City of Miami Police Department, City of Miami Gardens Police Department, City of Hialeah Police Department, City of North Miami Police Department, City of Aventura Police Department, City of Miami Beach Police Department.