Miami Police Still Searching for Evidence in the Murder of Aubrey Figg

South Beach, FL.— Aubrey Ann Figg’s body was found June 3 by her husband, Alex Rangel, in an apartment the two had previously shared on and off at 255 Collins Ave in South Beach. Police say they they still don’t know who killed the popular 38-year-old recent college grad and aspiring speech pathologist, who especially enjoyed working with kids with autism, though they have a handful of potential suspects.

Rangel allegedly found the decedent when he returned home from work around 9:30 p.m. the evening of June 3. Police said Rangel found Figg with a gaping knife wound to the neck. The murder weapon, a knife likely from the couple’s own home, was missing from the crime scene. Investigators surmise Figg was killed around 5 p.m. that day. Police consider Rangel, who was held over night after the discovery of Figg’s body, a person of interest, according to a family member of the deceased. He is cooperating with the investigation and has retained local attorney Kenneth Weisman.

A police report said emergency responders found Figg “unresponsive with a laceration to the neck.” The Miami-Dade medical examiner classified Figg’s cause of death as a “homicide with multiple injuries.” An individual familiar with the ongoing investigation said Figg had additional injuries to her arms and face, and that blood was found throughout the house, indicating there had likely been a struggle and that Figg fought back against her assailant.

Figg’s mother, Judith Maloy, told news outlets the attack must have been planned, as the killer would have to know Rangel would be at work when her daughter was killed.

Rangel’s Facebook says he’s from Queretaro, Mexico, and that he studied at Florida International University. One of Figg’s friends, who asked to remain anonymous, said Figg often expressed fear of Rangel who “might have cartel connections” and had been physically abusive in the past, including yanking out her hair on at least one occasion.

Some of Figg’s other friends confirmed this assessment of Rangel, noting that the two had a rocky relationship. Rangel would put Figg on a curfew when she went out clubbing, according to text messages a friend of Figg’s shared with me, which resulted in her being given the playful nickname “Cinderella” among friends. Figg had allegedly been out with a coworker from TGI Friday’s and two other friends at the Bentley Hotel the night of her murder, before receiving an urgent call or text message that prompted her to return home.

At least one of Figg’s close friends said the deceased and Rangel had a strong, loving relationship, and she couldn’t imagine him being involved in the killing.

Bryan Prior, another man whom Aubrey had dated at some point in the year leading up to her murder, is also being considered a person of interest. Pryor’s alibi is that he was at a bar with friends during the time Figg was murdered. Pryor has a criminal record, but there’s no evidence he’s previously committed a violent crime.

Another possible lead involves the alleged theft of Figg’s purse, which had her keys inside, the day before her murder, according to another friend.

Figg was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was working as a waitress at TGI Friday’s in South Beach at the time of her murder. She had a trip planned to see a much-beloved aunt back in Indiana one day after she was killed, according to family. She had also recently graduated from Miami-Dade College and was looking forward to getting her master’s so she could pursue her passion of helping kids.

A friend named “Miozotis Marie Pumarol Moloon,” who has also been linked to Pryor, left a cryptic public comment tagging Figg on Facebook on June 4: “Aubrey Figg Im [sic] sorry I couldn’t do more to save you. My only console [sic] is your [sic] not fearful anymore and at peace. I’m wrecked inside.”

Neither Miami police nor Rangel’s attorney have yet responded to requests for comment on the homicide investigation.

Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to contact the Miami-Dade Police Department.