Suspect bought gas, stood next to burning truck before firefighters found Miami-Dade man dead, police say

CUTLER BAY, Fla. – Detectives arrested a 35-year-old man early Friday morning after firefighters found a murder victim inside a burning Ford F250 pickup truck on Thursday afternoon in Cutler Bay.

Randall Lautzenheiser, who is homeless, used $5 to buy a can of beer and gasoline at a nearby gas station and a witness saw him running away from the parked pickup truck during the fire on Thursday, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

“I am going to be on CNN tonight,” Lautzenheiser said, according to a witness, police reported.

Lautzenheiser and the victim — who firefighters found dead in the driver’s seat of the truck in the area of Old Cutler Road and Southwest 92 Avenue — had allegedly been arguing. Police officers found Lautzenheiser shirtless and with burn marks on his arms, according to the arrest form.

Lautzenheiser is facing charges of first-degree murder and arson.

Court records show Lautzenheiser has an arrest record in Miami-Dade. In 2015, he was arrested for theft and loitering in Cutler Bay. There was a marijuana possession case in 2013 in Miami-Dade.

Detectives were asking anyone with information about the case to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

This is a developing story. Local 10 Assignment Desk Editor Joyce Grace Ortega contributed to this report.