MIAMI – A retired Miami-Dade police lieutenant pleaded guilty to attempted murder and a host of other charges Tuesday in exchange for a seven-year prison sentence.
Evelyn Fernandez, now 53, shot at her ex-boyfriend, a retired Miami police major, in the area of Southwest 282nd Street and 167th Avenue in October 2023. While he was the target, she struck his vehicle instead.
She then barricaded herself inside another home before officers from her former employer ― what was then the Miami-Dade Police Department ― arrested her.
In addition to the seven-year prison sentence, which includes time served, “followed by 20 years of probation if she leaves the state of Florida,” a prosecutor said.
In an email to Local 10 News, prosecutors explained the terms of her probation thusly:
“(a) The Defendant shall attend and complete an inpatient dual diagnosis treatment program s (or an equivalent program outside the State of Florida);
(b) Upon release from the inpatient portion of Nashville Treatment Solutions (or an equivalent program outside the State of Florida) the Defendant shall be equipped with a SCRAM bracelet for ninety (90) days;
(c) Upon completion of the inpatient program the Defendant shall attend and complete an outpatient treatment as recommended by Nashville Treatment Solutions (or an equivalent program outside the State of Florida);
(d) Following release from Nashville Treatment Solutions (or an equivalent program outside the State of Florida) the Defendant must continue under the care of a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist and comply with any and all medications her psychiatrist prescribes;
(e) The Defendant must comply with all conditions of injunction 2023-020294 FC-04
(f) The Defendant shall have no contact, directly or indirectly or through third parties with Victim and his children. This includes all electronic communications.
(g) The Defendant shall forfeit the firearm used in this crime as well as all other firearms in her possession.
This plea was predicated under the agreement that the Defendant is going to leave the State of Florida. Should she remain in or return to the State of Florida the Defendant agrees that her probation shall be modified to include two (2) years of Community Control with a total length of supervision not to exceed twenty (20) years with GPS monitoring for the entire duration of her supervision only while in the State of Florida."
Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office
Had she not taken the plea deal, she could have spent 20 years to life in prison.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with clarifying details regarding Fernandez’s probation conditions.