Miami Beach Police Arrest Broward Murder Suspect
Miami Beach police arrested Gabriel Nock, 27, on a Broward County murder charge in South Beach on Monday. Nock has been charged with 1st degree murder for the killing of Larry Ellison, 68, who was found strangled in his Wilton Manors home on March 10.
After questioning, Nock admitted to strangling Ellison in his home while robbing him. He also admitted to driving away in the victim's Infinity SUV along with his wallet, computer, and other electronics. Barring a serious mistake by the police, Nock's statements will be admissible against him in a future criminal trial and could make for a difficult criminal defense case.
So how did the authorities track him down? According to police, Nock's undoing was using the slain man's credit cards for a spending spree that included toiletries, clothing, an iPod, and a night of entertainment at a local strip club. The spending spree led authorities straight to South Beach where Miami Beach police arrested Nock as he stood near Ocean Drive and 15th Street. Police later discovered that Nock was also wanted on a Delaware warrant for escaping from a work-release center.
In all likelihood, the police read Nock his Miranda rights prior to questioning him about Ellison's murder. The purpose of Miranda is to protect against the potentially coercive effects of custodial interrogation by informing criminal suspects that they have the right to remain silent, that anything they say can be used against them, and that they have the right to legal representation. If he were smart, Nock would have refused to speak with the police and asked for the services of a criminal defense attorney. Instead, it sounds like he confessed to pretty much everything and even helped police locate Ellison's SUV and other property. Whatever Miami criminal lawyer ends up handling this case certainly has their work cut out for them.
