Former University of Florida Captain Arrested and Charged With 2016 Murder of His Wife

Over the weekend, former Florida Gator, Tony Joiner, whose full name is Earl Antonio Joiner, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the 2016 death of his wife, Heyzel Obando. Now, amid looming accusations, Joiner has become the second player from the 2006 University of Florida National Championship team to be accused of murder. 

According to CNN, the former captain was arrested on Saturday in Lake Wales, Florida after officials from the Oxygen show, “Cold Justice,” joined forces with the Office of State Attorney to make the arrest. Apparently, the network began working on Obando’s case on May 31st and wrapped production on Friday, one day before Joiner was taken into custody. 

Obando was found dead in her Maple Crest Apartment on Valentine’s Day in 2016. Two months later, her death was ruled a homicide, but the incident remained unsolved. Now, three years later in the wake of Joiner’s arrest, the mother of the victim is just hoping for justice.

“As a mother, I understand the pain his mother is going through,” Isabel Martinez said upon learning the news of her son-in-law’s arrest. “But as a mother, no one is going to take my pain away. Now that he is arrested, I hope he feels the weight of the law.” 

Joiner played as a safety for the Florida Gators from 2004 to 2007 and served as a captain for Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and then-freshman tight-end Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez then went on to play for the team from 2007 to 2009 before he was drafted to the New England Patriots. Five years later, Hernandez was convicted of murder and two years after, he was found not guilty of double murder in another case, but hanged himself days after the ruling.