Quoted Text

BARTOW, Fla. (AP) - Authorities in central Florida have a man in custody they say stabbed a friend to death and then drank his blood.

Mauricio Mendez Lopez is accused of killing Macario Cruz in a house they shared in Bartow.

Police said they believe Lopez stabbed Cruz to death because he was having an affair with his sister-in-law, Mariella Mendez. Lopez is the uncle of Mendez and Cruz's wife.

A police report shows the men had an argument in which Lopez struck Cruz in the face with a 15-pound dumb bell. He then allegedly threatened to kill them both unless the relationship ended.

Authorities say Lopez returned later and stabbed Cruz to death. Mariella Mendez told police Lopez left with a plastic cup in his hand that appeared to hold blood. She said he drank from the cup in a strange ritual from their native Mexico.

Lopez was taken into custody late Wednesday and is in the Polk County Jail with no bond.

According to several published reports all of the adults in the home are illegal immigrants.