Man suspected of murdering teen pleads not guilty

20-year-old Fernando Granados charged with killing Tiffany Cabreja

MIAMI – Fernando Granados, who is charged with the murder of 18-year-old Tiffany Cabreja, pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Granados, 20, is charged with second-degree murder and admitted to killing Cabreja, according to Miami-Dade police.

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Her body was found at a construction site in the 28200 block of SW 144th Avenue on Sept. 21.

Tiffany Cabreja

According to the arrest affidavit, Granados told detectives that he and his friend picked up Cabreja from her house the night before her body was found. The three of them went to Leisure City Park, where they smoked crack cocaine, then went to the construction site. 

Detectives say Granados admitted to them that he began to choke Cabreja and held her while his friend hit her.

The medical examiner determined she died from strangulation and blunt force trauma. When her body was found, a ligature had been tied around her neck and a bag was over her head, police say. 

Granados' next hearing will be on Dec. 16 and police are still searching for his friend.

Anyone with information on the second man is asked to call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS.