The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has released new information on the 2007 homicide of Randi Gorenberg.

On Saturday, June 4, 2011, America’s Most Wanted will feature this case, in connection with a wanted fugitive case from Miami Dade Police Department.  The wanted fugitive, Michel Barrera is now considered a person of interest in the murder of  Randi Gorenberg and assistance is being requested from the public in determining his current whereabouts. It is necessary for investigators to interview Barrera and begin to determine whether or not he is involved in this crime. Probable cause does not exist to arrest Barrera for the murder, however there are multiple outstanding warrants from Dade County including, but not limited to Attempted Murder on Law Enforcement, Armed Bank Robbery, Fleeing and Eluding and Shooting at Police during a High Speed Chase.

Information related to Barrera was provided to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Division through a confidential informant, who was incarcerated at the time of the Gorenberg murder.  The informant advised that after the murder and while still incarcerated, he/she overheard known MS 13 Gang members talking about Randi’s murder and how gang members were responsible for the crime.  The informant also advised that a hitman, believed to be Michel Barrera, assisted the gang.

Since this information was received the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Division, including homicide and tactical operations units, have conducted extensive background investigation on Barrera, his family and known associates.  Barrera has family members living in Miami, Florida, who at the time of the Gorenberg murder owned a Chrysler 300 four door vehicle, silver in color.  This is the type vehicle believed to be seen in the Home Depot video following behind the Mercedes SUV, just after the shooting and just before the Mercedes was abandoned.  Barrera’s father is currently incarcerated at a federal prison in Miami and his older brother is in a state prison in north Florida.

Barrera is to be considered armed and dangerous and could be traveling in and out of the United States and South Florida area from Mexico. It is possible Barrera is living and traveling under a fictitious identity.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS stay anonymous and be eligible for up to $1,000 REWARD! You can also text tips to @ tips@cspbc.com

Background:

On Friday, March 23, 2007, at about 1:12 pm, Randi Gorenberg left the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, Florida after shopping.    

At about 1:54 p.m., a citizen called 911 and informed the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office that she heard gunshots and witnessed a female being pushed from the passenger side of a black 2007 Mercedes Benz GL450 sports utility vehicle in the parking lot of the South County Civic Center in unincorporated Delray Beach, Florida.  It was discovered that Randi Gorenberg had been shot and killed.  The South County Civic Center is about 5 miles from the Town Center Mall. 

At about 1:59 pm, surveillance cameras captured the black 2007 Mercedes Benz GL450 sports utility vehicle, later identified as Gorenberg’s vehicle, in the front of the Home Depot parking lot.  The Home Depot is less than two miles north of where Gorenberg was murdered and is located on the southeast corner of Atlantic Avenue and Jog Road, also in Delray Beach, Florida.  The vehicle was recovered in the rear parking lot of the Home Depot shortly thereafter.