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Ocoee home invasion murder suspects denied bond

OCOEE, Fla. — Two suspects charged with murder in the death of a man during a home invasion in Ocoee were denied bond on Saturday.

On Thursday and Friday, three more suspects were arrested in connection with the deadly home invasion , according to police.

Donnell Godfrey, Tekethia Ruffin and Emmanuel Wallace are the latest suspects charged in the scheme to murder courtroom witnesses. Godfrey and Wallace have been charged with first degree murder, among other charges, and were ordered to be held on no bond Saturday.

Tekethia Ruffin face charges of providing false information to law enforcement and accessory after the fact. She was given a $7,000 bond on Saturday.

Police have now arrested nine people they said were either involved in the original home invasion or connected to Alex Zaldivar's murder and the shooting of two of his roommates to keep them from testifying.

Zaldivar was scheduled to testify as a victim against Bessman Okafor and Nolan Bernard, both defendants in a previous home invasion at the same home.

In September, gunmen kicked in the front door of the Bernadino Drive home where Zaldivar, 19, lived with friends, Brienna Campos and her brother, Remington, according to investigators.

Investigators believe a group dragged Zaldivar out of bed and shot him, execution-style, because he was a key witness scheduled to testify against Okafor and Bernard the next day.

"Hopefully, maybe 15 years from now, they'll all be exterminated. That's what I want," said the victim's father, Rafael Zaldivar.

Police said they want people to remember Zaldivar as a brave young man who intended to do the right thing by going to court to put accused criminals behind bars.

"Don't dishonor his memory by using this as an excuse to say, 'Well, I'm scared. I don't want to end up like this,'" said Detective Michael Moreschi.

Earlier this month, authorities arrested Nesly Ciceron, 29, in connection with the killing.

In a release to WFTV, investigators said, "Nesly is being charged with being a principal in the first degree as it is related to the planning and carrying out of the murder of Alex Zaldivar."

However, authorities wouldn't say what evidence they have against Ciceron.

Okafor was indicted earlier this month in Zaldivar's killing and will face the death penalty. A total of nine suspects have now been arrested in connection with the case, police said.

Okafor's mother, Catalina Ruffin, was charged with allegedly trying to bribe the witnesses.

Okafor's girlfriend, Sherria Gordon, was also arrested, accused of lying to investigators, and his brother, Idor-Iyers Ruffin, has been arrested in connection to the alleged coverup.

Also arrested was Antione McLaren, who was charged with making false statements.

Detectives believe they have apprehended all of the suspects, but said more arrests could still be made.

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