Bond set for man involved in death of 15-year-old Melanie Medina, deputies say

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County man will have to pay $11,200 to get out of the Orange County Jail.

Ramsys Cruz Abreu, 22, faced a judge Saturday on additional charges related to the death of Melanie Medina.

He now faces manslaughter, unlawful disposal of human remains, tampering with evidence and possession of cannabis, deputies said.

The 15-year-old was found April 11, dumped on the side of Ziegler Road in Orange County.

Cruz Abreu was originally charged with being an accessory after the fact in connection with Medina’s death. However, that charge was dropped Thursday.

Deputies said Thursday that Medina's death was an accident.

Cruz Abreu said that on the night of Medina’s death, he was in the car with her and a 16-year-old girl.

He said the three had stopped at a Krispy Kreme store across from the Mall of Millenia when he heard a loud bang and saw a bright flash.

Cruz Abreu told investigators that Medina grabbed her neck and died within minutes. He said he and the 16-year-old discussed dumping her body because the teen was afraid for anyone to find out that she had a gun.

The 16-year-old will not be charged in connection with the death of Medina, deputies said.

Medina's family told Channel 9's Angela Jacobs that they want the 16-year-old to be charged. Medina's mother said she doesn't believe her daughter's death was an accident and demands justice.

“The only way the state could prove this case would be if the forensic didn't line up with what this young girl said happened,” said WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.

Sheaffer said a week ago that Cruz Abreu's arrest as an accessory to murder was premature. Sheaffer said he’s not surprised the charge was downgraded to "tampering with evidence."

“They have no choice but to do what they did,” Sheaffer said.

Eyewitness News asked how the 16-year-old obtained the gun, but we have not heard back from the sheriff’s office.

Cox Media Group