Bond set for man in Orlando teen's disappearance

Sanel Saint Simon prime suspect in disappearance of Alexandria Chery

ORLANDO, Fla. – A judge set the bond for the prime suspect in the disappearance of an Orange County teenager at $200,000 on Tuesday at his bond hearing, as court documents detail evidence that the family says identifies the body found.

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Sanel Saint Simon, 43, has a $100,000 bond set on felony obstruction of a criminal investigation charges and $100,000 bond on tampering with evidence in the disappearance of 16-year-old Alexandria Chery.

The judge also said that if Saint Simon, who entered the country illegally but obtained a status exempting him from deportation weeks before Alexandria disappeared, is released on bond, he must tell the state where he is living and cannot leave Central Florida.

A body found in the search for Alexandria, the daughter of Saint Simon's girlfriend, was preliminarily identified as the teen, although authorities await more tests before confirming the body was her.

According to court documents obtained by Local 6, the body found had a pink belly-button ring, a T-shirt with a specific logo and purple nail polish, which the family says are things connected to Alex.

In Tuesday's hearing, prosecutors said Saint Simon repeatedly lied and swore he was at work when they had him leaving on surveillance video. Prosecutors said Saint Simon called his uncle and asked for him to lie in Creole, while being recorded during an interview with investigators.

A Wednesday first appearance for Saint Simon was canceled.

On Monday, the state filed new felony charges against Saint Simon, a week after Alexandria was last seen alive. Investigators say there is enough evidence to proceed with their investigation as if she is dead, although no one has been charged in her death.

Saint Simon's bond was set at $500,000 temporarily on Monday, but the judge said on Wednesday that bond was excessive. Orange County sheriff's investigators asked the state to request that Saint Simon be held on no bond.

Watch Local 6 News and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this story.


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