Florida Man Charged With Second-Degree Murder Three Months After His Girlfriend Was Found Dead On I-95

A Florida man has been charged with second-degree murder nearly three months after her girlfriend was found dead on the side of I-95.

According to jail records, Lorent Junior Pion, 29, has been at the Broward Main Jail since he was arrested last December "as a person of interest," but is expected to be transferred to Miami-Dade County, where the murder took place.

As reported by CBS News, Pion was the main suspect behind the death of Nahomi Valentina Cittadini, his on-and-off girlfriend. Pion and Cittadini were driving along I-95 near Ives Dairy Road on Dec. 7, when a heated argument turned into a violent altercation.

Pion initially told investigators that Cittadini had jumped out of his car during an argument and was hit by another vehicle, but according to new evidence, a Florida Department of Transportation worker who reviewed traffic camera footage from that day saw a man repeatedly punching a woman before dragging her towards the oncoming traffic.

"The victim crawled back to the emergency shoulder," the witness said. "The subject punched the victim and dragged her back to the far-right lane in the path of oncoming traffic."

Authorities that responded to the scene found Cittadini dead with clothes found next to her body. Miami-Dade Police homicide detectives that took over the investigation said they found her unresponsive on the side of the highway. A Miami-Dade medical examiner two days later determined she had died from blunt force injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

Investigators said it appeared Pion was "attempting to load" her body into his SUV when a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crew arrived. One of the FDOT workers "observed that Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel drove by (Cittadini) and did not stop," Detective Malia Carson said.

Detectives then received information from a witness that Pion showed up to his house with blood all over his body and proceeded to confront him. The witness then notified authorities and provided a sworn statement.

Authorities were able to locate the suspect thanks to an ankle monitor and located Pion at 11700 SW 26th St. in Miramar. Carson added that officers with the MDPD Homicide Task Force responded and saw Pion getting into a black BMW SUV and starting a chase across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. He eventually crashed at the intersection of Red Road and Miramar Parkway and even tried to escape on foot.

Pion was initially arrested for failing to stop at the scene and aggravated fleeing, but thanks to the new evidence, he is now facing a second-degree murder charge.

Prior to Cittadini's murder, Pion already counted with an extensive criminal record. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, his criminal history includes carjacking, a felon in possession of a weapon. Last August, Pion and Cittadini were involved in a physical altercation in Miami Beach, leading to a protective order against Pion.

According to Maria Benitez, Cittadini's mother, Pion video-called the victim's father after the Dec. 7 incident, showing him her phone, watch and purse.

"He had her belongings at his sister's house," Benitez said.

Three months after the murder of her daughter, Benitez said justice will help Cittadini rest in peace. "I know that's not going to bring my daughter back, but at least she'll rest easier," she said. "He has to pay."