MIAMI (Court TV) — A Florida woman was convicted in the death of her partner, despite her argument that she was acting in self-defense when she took his life.
Daisy Link appears in court during her trial Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (Court TV)
Daisy Link was found guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Pedro Jimenez, who was shot to death on June 25, 2022. In court documents, officers described the relationship between Link and Jimenez as one “marred by long-term physical abuse and domestic violence.”
Investigators point to a pattern of violence in the relationship, citing a 911 call five days before the deadly shooting, where Link was accused of attacking Jimenez with a skateboard while he was inside his vehicle, trying to flee. Text messages sent between the defendant and victim reveal Jimenez accusing her of violence, including an incident where he said he was pistol-whipped in front of her children. Link’s defense alleges Jimenez was the one who beat her with a gun days before the final encounter and alleges he fired a shot at Link in front of the children.
Prosecutors say that when Link initially spoke to police after Jimenez was shot, she admitted to being the aggressor in the argument and said that she “shot to merely scare the victim.”
Link became pregnant by another inmate after her arrest for murder, though the jury is not expected to hear those details, WPLG reported.
DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS
DAY 6 – 10/16/25
- LIVESTREAM: FL v. Daisy Link, Day 6 | ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder Trial
- Prosecutor Alex Bergida presents the State’s closing argument.
- Bergida told the jury that Link murdered Jimenez to end their 9-year relationship because she was angry that he had been at a friend’s house all day.
- The couple’s toxic relationship ended with them fighting over cheating accusations.
- Link pointed the gun at Jimenez and fired when the victim was running away from him, and then mocked him saying, “Not like I hit a major artery, you’ll be fine.”
- Bergida emphasized that Link lied to the police and hid Jimenez’s phone and wallet to prevent identification.
- WATCH: State: Daisy Link ‘Mocked and Belittled’ Pedro Jimenez After Shooting Him
- A. Antonio Tomas delivered the defense’s closing argument.
- Tomas emphasized that Link is presumed innocent and said that the State hadn’t overcome its burden of reasonable doubt, because they must prove that Link was not justified in shooting.
- Link’s mother flew in secretly to help her leave Jimenez because of the couple’s history of domestic violence, which also limited his parental rights.
- Jimenez beat Link “half to death” five days before the shooting in front of their children.
- Link called 911 and tried to get Jimenez help.
- Alex Bergida delivered the prosecution’s rebuttal closing argument.
- Bergida reminded the jury that Link admitted that she shouldn’t have shot the victim and lied repeatedly throughout the investigation.
- Both Link and Jimenez were abusers in a toxic relationship.
- Bergida used a mannequin to demonstrate how Jimenez was running away when he was shot.
- The jury began deliberations.
- The jury reached a verdict after less than two hours of deliberations.
DAY 5 – 10/15/25
- LIVESTREAM: FL v. Daisy Link, Day 5 | ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder Trial
- Daisy Link took the stand in her own defense.
- Link detailed her on-and-off relationship with Jimenez, which spanned several years and resulted in two children. The two did not live together; Jimenez lived with his mother. Link lived alone with the children and had Jimenez removed from the lease.
- Five days before the shooting, Link said Jimenez pistol-whipped her and fired a shot at her. He only stopped when he heard their son screaming. Link described her injuries as extensive, saying her skull was visible.
- MORE: Daisy Link testifies she shot boyfriend in self-defense after years of abuse
- Jimenez apologized days later, saying he loved her. Link took him back and said she didn’t call the police over fear he would be deported.
- On the day of the shooting, Jimenez bought several bags of cocaine. Link said that she wasn’t scared of Jimenez normally, but that when he took drugs, he became “a monster.”
- Jimenez accused Link of infidelity, choked her and left and returned multiple times. Link said she would not allow her mother, who witnessed a portion of the violence, to call the police.
- Link said the final confrontation happened when Jimenez returned again while she was standing outside, holding the gun for protection. She admitted to sleeping with someone else, causing Jimenez to grab her hair and throw her to the floor.
- Link said she fired toward the floor to scare him and did not initially believe that she hit Jimenez. When she discovered he had been hit, she tried to render aid.
- When asked why she was not initially honest with the police, Link said she was worried she would be in trouble for allowing Jimenez around the children when he wasn’t supposed to be.
- WATCH: ‘I Didn’t Expect To Hit Him’: Daisy Link Walks Jury Through Deadly Shooting
- During cross-examination, Link admitted that both she and Jimenez had committed acts of domestic violence.
- Link conceded that Jimenez was unarmed and running away from her toward the house when he was shot.
- Prosecutors emphasized that there was a 10-minute delay before 911 was called, and then said Link lied to 911 about their identities.
- Pedro Jimenez Jr., the son of Daisy Link and the victim Pedro Jimenez, testified that days before the fatal shooting, his father shot at his mother, Daisy, but missed.
- WATCH: Defendant and Victim’s Son: ‘I Asked Him To Stop Hitting My Mom’
- Said his mother knocked the gun out of his father’s hand during the incident
- Witnessed his father hitting his mother and asked him to stop
- Was present when police arrested his mother, heard her screaming she didn’t do anything wrong
- Confirmed his mother locked him and his sister in a bedroom
- Lives with grandmother now and discusses the incident with her weekly
- Sometimes forgets details and grandmother reminds him what happened
- Testified he was there to help get his mother out of jail
- The defense rested after Pedro Jimenez Jr. testified
- Det. Angel Wilson denied Link’s testimony that Wilson coerced her into talking to police by saying she could lose her kids and spend the rest of her life in jail unless she talked, while shadowing detectives as part of the domestic violence unit.
- Accompanied Link to fingerprinting and bathroom
- Link overheard Wilson mention being a DV detective and told Wilson she was a DV victim
- Wilson directed Link to speak with homicide detectives instead
- Was not listed as having information on the case until 3 days before testifying
- Had no substantive role in the investigation beyond escorting duties
- Closing arguments are expected Oct. 16.
DAY 4 – 10/14/25
- LIVESTREAM: FL v. Daisy Link, Day 4 | ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder Trial
- Detective Joseph Cruz testified as the lead investigator:
- Arrived to the scene approximately 3 hours after the incident at 6:30 AM
- Ring camera footage showed 5-minute gap between shooting and gunshots heard and 12-minute gap between shooting and 911 call
- No firearm or bullet casings found during initial property search
- Link detained but not arrested, brought to headquarters
- Link appeared anxious, declined food and clothing
- Miranda rights read at 4:20 PM
- Link admitted to shooting victim multiple times during interview
- She volunteered gun location before knowing police had already found it
- Firearm later found in palm tree around 12:30 PM
- State rests it’s case-in-chief
- Leilene Gonzalez (defendant’s niece):
- In June 2022, she traveled from Texas to Florida with her grandmother to bring Daisy and her children back to Texas to live with family
- Before traveling, she saw photos showing injuries to Daisy’s head/bruises
- When she arrived in Florida, she observed wounds on Daisy consistent with the photos she had seen
- She and her grandmother went to Daisy’s house to pack belongings. Daisy gave them keys, but the keys didn’t work – Daisy later explained she had changed the locks and gave them the wrong keys
- While at the house picking up her grandmother, she saw Pedro outside the building, pacing around and walking in circles
- Pedro waved at her but did not enter the house during her 5-10 minute visit
- She left with her grandmother and Crystal (Daisy’s sister), while Daisy and her children stayed behind
- The next morning she learned that Daisy had been arrested
- On cross-examination, she clarified she initially didn’t know the specific reason for the trip until seeing the photos
- She confirmed Pedro was acting normally when she saw him, just waving
- She acknowledged she wasn’t present at the house from 10 PM to 3 AM, so couldn’t know if Pedro entered after she left
- She confirmed Pedro did not live in the house
- Crystal Barreto (defendant’s sister):
- WATCH: ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder Trial: Defendant’s Sister Takes Stand
- Received text pictures from Daisy showing severe injuries:
- First picture showed Daisy with blood all over her shoulder area
- Second picture showed Daisy’s head with a gash and blood in her hair and head
- Crystal could see what appeared to be skull through the open wound
- Injuries included lots of blood and swelling
- Offered to take Daisy to the hospital for treatment and went to Daisy’s house approximately 24 hours after receiving the pictures
- Contacted their mother immediately after seeing the pictures • Asked mother to come to Florida to take Daisy and her children to Texas
- Believed the injuries were severe and potentially life-threatening
- As far as Crystal knew, Pedro was not living with Daisy at the time
- On the night of the shooting, Crystal went to Daisy’s house around midnight or 1 AM
- Stayed in car while niece Leilene got out to help their mother
- Left to pick up Daisy’s children because “an accident happened”
- Crystal denied telling police that “Daisy must have killed Pedro”
- Josefina Perez, Link’s mother, testified that she traveled from TX to FL after seeing photos of her daughter with head injuries and arm bruises.
- WATCH: ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder Trial: Defendant’s Mother Takes Stand
- Perez said there was a pre-existing plan to help Link and her children escape from Jimenez on July 4, but they moved the plan up due to the injuries.
- She witnessed Jimenez choke Link during a conversation that made him angry. She threatened to call the police, but Jimenez said not to call because he would lose his career. Pedro then left, but returned 15 minutes later, knocking things over, grabbing Link’s purse and cell phone, taking whiskey and running back out.
- Pedro returned a third time, then “clothes-lined” Link when she looked for her purse.
- During cross-examination, Perez faced questions about inconsistencies with her previous statements regarding telling Jimenez to leave.
- Perez was not present for the pistol-whipping incident and learned about it from her nephew.
- During a break in testimony, Perez was questioned about watching the trial’s livestream, which she denied.
- Crystal Beretto, Link’s sister, was brought in to be questioned about sharing Facebook posts about the trial.
- Beretto said she had not watched any of the trial because she was told not to and denied talking to other witnesses about testimony.
- Prosecutors accused her of lying to the court about her social media activity and trial viewing.
- Prosecutors said they saw Perez watching the trial livestream during a court break.
- WATCH: ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder Trial: Defendant’s Mother Takes Stand
DAY 3 – 10/10/25
- LIVESTREAM: FL v. Daisy Link, Day 3 | ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder Trial
- WATCH: How Did Daisy Link Get Pregnant By Another Inmate in Jail?
- WATCH: Judge Admonishes Defendant Daisy Link for Making Facial Expressions
- Crime scene technician Ineirys Zapata continued her testimony, detailing a blood trail that began approximately 15 steps from the front of the residence and bloodstained items found in a silver SUV.
- Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Benjamin Mathis, performed the autopsy on Pedro Jimenez on June 26, 2022.
- Victim had tourniquet on right thigh and multiple tattoos, including one saying “Daisy”
- Two gunshot wounds: through-and-through wound on left foot and right thigh. A single bullet caused both wounds.
- Victim’s foot had to be in the air when shot, consistent with running • Bullet damaged femoral artery and vein in right thigh
- Injury to femoral artery causes rapid, severe blood loss. Death would take several minutes without medical intervention
- Toxicology showed alcohol, “recreational amount” of cocaine (0.274 mg/liter), and THC
- Cause of death: gunshot wound of right thigh; Manner: homicide
- A Sgt. who extracted data from two cellphones testified about a nearly 7-minute video recorded minutes before the 911 call.
- Detective Melanie Ginoris, 8-year veteran assigned to homicide unit, investigated shooting case involving Daisy Link and Pedro
- Link spontaneously admitted “I did not mean to kill him” before Miranda rights were read
- Link was “very defensive” and refused to change clothes, saying “I’m not gonna put that shit on”
- Link made 911 call reporting “blood everywhere” from her phone
- Multiple Ring doorbell videos captured the incident, obtained through search warrant
- Link was questioned for approximately 11 hours from 9 AM to 6:20 PM
- During interview, Link said she “just wanted to scare him” and make him “stop hitting me”
- Link described 9-year relationship with Pedro, claimed he had “severe mental disorder”
- Link said Pedro controlled her social media access – no Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram
- Link told police she threw gun “by the tree” and officers found it there
- Link immediately applied tourniquet to Pedro’s leg and called 911 when she realized what happened
- No shell casing found at scene; Link was under police supervision entire time
- Link whispered “I killed him, I loved him, I loved him so much” during interview
- Cross-examination revealed video showing Pedro “running around the residence” and “screaming”
- Link threw a chair at detective during questioning
DAY 2 – 10/9/25
- Crime scene technician Ineirys Zapata testified to crime scene photos she took.
- The photos showed a trail of blood that went along a walkway and into the alleyway.
- A firearm was located in a tree in front of Link’s home.
- Miami-Dade Police Sgt. Z. Fernandez testified to surveillance video captured by a neighbor, Robert Cisneros.
- While in police custody, one month’s worth of footage was deleted from the device and could not be retrieved.
- WATCH: ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder Trial: Sgt. Questioned About Missing Video
- Robert Cisneros, Link’s neighbor, testified that he gave detectives a video recorded by his surveillance system.
- He described what the video shows: the victim running, stumbling and falling, and the defendant approaching him. She appeared “emotionally distraught,” Cisneros testified.
- WATCH: Neighbor: Victim Pedro Jimenez Was ‘Running, Stumbling And Falling’ On Video
- WATCH: ‘Toxic Relationship’ Murder: Deputy Details Finding Alleged Murder Weapon
- Deputy Victor Gil – K9 Handler, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Gil testified about his role as a K9 handler
- Gil was called to search a location and residence exterior following the shooting incident
- His K9 Nany alerted to and located a firearm near a palm tree by pulling Gil to the branches
- The dog’s behavior of going to the branches was her trained method of indicating something was present
- Deputy Harold Riobe Jr. – K9 Handler, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Riobe testified about conducting a secondary search of the crime scene with his K9 Trigger on June 25-26, 2022.
- His dog Trigger is trained specifically on gunpowder and oil detection as a single-scent operation
- He was directed to run his dog through specific areas as a secondary canvas to ensure all areas were covered
- Trigger is trained to go into a seated position when he finds something
- Despite searching the property where the shooting occurred, no additional evidence was found
- Jason Felix – Firearms Examiner, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab Felix examined and tested the firearm recovered in the case, providing detailed analysis of the weapon and ballistics evidence.
- The firearm was identified as a 9mm “ghost gun” manufactured by Polymer 80 Inc. with no serial number
- Ghost guns are privately made firearms that circumvent registration requirements through online kits
- The weapon was fully operable with no mechanical issues during testing
- Felix conducted test firing procedures and collected casings for microscopic examination
- He swabbed the gun for DNA analysis, focusing on areas like the grip and magazine where someone would handle it
- The firearm used semi-automatic operation, ejecting casings near the shooter’s location
- Cosette Alvarez – Forensic Biologist, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab Alvarez conducted DNA analysis on swabs taken from the recovered firearm, providing crucial evidence linking the defendant to the weapon.
- DNA analysis revealed a mixture of at least three people on the firearm swab
- Defendant D. Link’s DNA was identified as the major/predominant profile on the weapon
- The statistical probability that the DNA belongs to someone other than Link is 1 in 28.7 septillion
- At least one male’s DNA was also present on the firearm but the profile was incomplete
- The magazine swab contained low-level DNA that was too complex for comparison
- Due to the overwhelming statistical evidence, it would be unreasonable to conclude someone else was the source of the predominant DNA profile
- Detective Danny Morales – Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Morales was the first detective to respond to the scene and conducted initial investigation, including detention of the defendant and evidence collection.
- Found defendant Daisy Link sitting directly in front of the residence at the crime scene, which he found unusual
Link became aggressive when approached and tried to swing a chair when he attempted to detain her
During detention, Link tried to hide a cell phone and car key to a Chevy Trax SUV
When notifying Link’s sister about the incident, she spontaneously stated “If he is dead, Daisy must’ve shot him”
Obtained and executed search warrants for the residence, vehicle, and cell phone
Reviewed Ring camera footage that showed Link with a firearm and captured audio of gunshots
The Ring camera audio captured Link telling the victim “you’ll be fine” and asking if he wanted to go to the hospital
Defense played additional audio where the victim appears to say “I wanna die”
No evidence was found that the victim was armed with any weapon
- Found defendant Daisy Link sitting directly in front of the residence at the crime scene, which he found unusual
DAY 1 – 10/8/25
- In their opening statement, prosecutors presented audio recordings and bodyworn camera footage from police that they say contradict Link’s account of what happened, WFOR reported.
- Link could be seen crying and covering her ears and hiding her face as jurors watched the videos.
- Antonio Tomas, Link’s defense attorney, told the jury in his opening statement that Link had been trying to leave the relationship, but the victim was “out of control, unhinged and dangerous,” WTVJ reported.
- Link claims the victim pistol-whipped her during a violent argument days before the murder.
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