Left inset: Marvin Jean-Pierre (Broward County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Jose Mondelus (Fred Hunter’s Funeral Home & Fred Hunter’s Hollywood Memorial Gardens). Background: Evidence being shown during Marvin Jean-Pierre’s murder trial (WTVJ).
A Florida man has been convicted of murder for an attack on his roommate that included throwing an iron at him and suffocating the victim with a plastic bag. He then wrapped his body up in a carpet, tied a necktie around his feet, and stuffed the man in a closet with the plastic bag over his head, where cops later found him.
Marvin Jean-Pierre, 26, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 killing of 52-year-old Jose Mondelus in the Miramar apartment they shared, according to local NBC affiliate WTVJ.
Photos and body camera footage shown at Jean-Pierre’s trial reportedly included images of the crime scene and video of cops finding Mondelus’ body in the closet during a January 2021 search of their residence. Evidence, including the carpet and neckties, was also shown, per WTVJ.
“The cause of death was asphyxia due to manual strangulation and plastic bag suffocation,” a local medical examiner testified.
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Jean-Pierre had been kicked out of his house by his mom for smoking marijuana before moving in with Mondelus, a longtime family friend, according to WTVJ, which cites statements made by prosecutors. He was 22 at the time.
“He told police, ‘Oh, I got in a fight with my roommate. My roommate was gay and was coming on to me. He rubbed me inappropriately, and I had no choice, so I threw an iron at his head and kicked him a few times,'” alleged Taylor Collins, an assistant state attorney with the Broward State Attorney’s Office, during opening statements.
“In the middle of the night, Marvin wakes up to Jose touching him,” said Jean-Pierre’s defense attorney, Gabe Ermine, according to WTVJ. “Marvin felt that he was being rubbed in a sexual manner,” the lawyer proclaimed. “Marvin acted in self-defense.”
Mondelus’ sister had reported him missing on Jan. 1, 2021, after not hearing from him since Dec. 29, 2020. His body was found the same day she made the report.
Jurors convicted Jean-Pierre on Monday for the slaying. He now has 30 days to appeal his life sentence.
