Man wanted in estranged wife's death found at middle school, deputies say

Alex Olivencia-Alvarado, of Kissimmee, booked into jail

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A man who investigators said killed his estranged wife in Osceola County was arrested after deputies responded to a burglary at an Orlando middle school, officials said.

Alex Olivencia-Alvarado, who had a 9 mm handgun in his possession, was taken into custody Sunday after Orange County sheriff's deputies responded to Meadow Woods Middle School for a report of a burglary, officials said.

"He did cooperate with the investigation and confessed to the crimes," said Jacob Ruiz with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.

Ruiz said the department is working to see if that same gun was used to kill Olivencia-Alvarado's estranged wife. 

Deputies began searching for Olivencia-Alvarado, whom they believed to be armed and dangerous, last week. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called Monday to a home at the Rio Hills Townhomes in Kissimmee and found Michelle Rodriguez-Laracuente, 42, dead from injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.

An investigation determined that Olivencia-Alvarado, the victim's estranged husband, killed her, deputies said. A warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of first-degree murder.

Ivelisse Saint-Clair and Rodriguez -Laracuente’s daughters are best friends. Saint-Clair spoke to News 6 by phone Monday.

"It gives me comfort. I know this past week it’s definitely been hard for everyone knowing he’s still out there and we didn’t know what he was going to do next," Saint-Clair said.

She set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money for the Rodriguez-Laracuente’s funeral. So far, the account has already raised nearly $9,000.

The victim leaves behind two children: a 21-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old son. The victim was killed, deputies said, by her abusive husband. Family and friends said she was a loving mother who cared deeply for her children.

"She was very supportive of her children, so proud of them. She provided for them, anything they needed," Saint-Clair said.

Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson said Olivencia-Alvarado has a documented history of domestic violence against Laracuente.

Olivencia-Alvarado was booked into jail on charges of murder and armed burglary.

The school was searched and secured, officials said.

Click here for a link to the GoFundMe page.


About the Authors:

Ezzy Castro is a multimedia journalist on News 6's morning team who has a passion for telling the stories of the people in the Central Florida community. Ezzy worked at WFOR CBS4 in South Florida and KBMT in Beaumont, Texas, where she covered Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Being from Miami, Ezzy loves Cuban coffee and croquetas!

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.

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