Man Sentenced to Death Row for Murder and Gambling with Victim’s Money
Case Overview
A man who murdered a woman in her own home and subsequently gambled with her money has been sentenced to death row once again. This marks the second time the individual, Rafael Andres, has received the death penalty.
Judicial Decision
On July 24, Judge Nushin Sayfie from the Miami-Dade Circuit Court ruled that Andres should be returned to death row following a new sentencing process. This followed changes in Florida’s death penalty laws, which led to the earlier sentence being overturned.
Details of the Crime
The crime dates back to 2005, when Andres killed a waitress named Yvette Farinas near Miami International Airport. Andres, who was 61 years old at the time of the recent ruling, had previously avoided the death penalty after his initial sentencing was reversed in 2018 due to changes in the law.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Andres, who worked as a handyman for Farinas, used a key she had given him to gain entry into her home. On August 6, 2025, he broke in, tortured her until she revealed the personal identification number for her ATM card, then stabbed and strangled her with a cord.
Aftermath and Gambling Incident
After committing the murder, Andres attempted to cover up the crime by setting the house on fire. He then went to the Miccosukee Resort & Casino, where he gambled using more than $1,600 from Farinas’ ATM card before fleeing from the authorities.
Investigation and Conviction
The evidence against Andres included camera footage and DNA analysis, which strongly linked him to the murder. He remained on the run until his arrest in January 2006. In 2014, a jury found him guilty and recommended the death penalty. However, the sentence was overturned in 2018 due to shifts in the legal requirements for imposing the death sentence.
Past Criminal History
This was not Andres’ first serious offense. In 1988, he fatally stabbed a friend of his wife and served an 18-month prison term for that crime.
