Deputies: Husband becomes 3rd person charged in connection to his wife's murder

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Editor's note: The video above is from the funeral of Erica Aviles on July 28, prior to Cornelio Negrete's arrest.

Earlier this month, Hillsborough County deputies arrested a couple they say killed Dover mother Erica Aviles. Now, the sheriff's office says Erica's husband was also involved in her murder.

Cornelio Negrete, 28, was arrested in connection to his wife's homicide on July 18, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

He is facing charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, principal to first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and false reports to law enforcement.

Erica's brother said he never expected this.

“I didn’t expect him to be involved, the way he was talking made it seem like he missed her and everything," Daniel Aviles said.

Prior to his arrest, Negrete told 10 Tampa Bay reporter Megan Myers that he never expected his wife's death. He explained that he was with his wife at the time she was shot. 

"It sounded super close," Negrete said at the time. "I heard her scream and I ran out the door. I see her on the ground."

In a separate interview, he shared how the loss was impacting him and his family.

"I haven't seen my wife, it's like the hardest thing ever. My daughter cries for her every night," he told 10 Tampa Bay reporter Shannon Clowe at his wife's funeral.

RELATED: Couple accused of murder, then trying to frame somebody before killing him too

Deputies previously arrested 27-year-old Daniel Negrete, Cornelio's cousin, for allegedly killing Erica Aviles at her home on July 18 with the help of his girlfriend, 20-year-old Fatima Garcia Avila.

According to court documents, Garcia Avila claimed Aviles was a bad mother and was having an affair.

Erica's brother said despite what anyone claims, his sister was a great mother.

“My sister was a big-hearted person she was always there for everyone," Daniel said.

A week later, on July 26, detectives say the couple tried to frame Garcia Avila's ex-boyfriend, Antonio Benito Cuellar-Enriquez, for the crime before allegedly killing him, too.

Investigators say Cuellar-Enriquez's murder happened at the Baker Creek Boat Ramp. According to the sheriff's office, Garcia Avila lured her ex to the boat ramp where her current boyfriend shot him multiple times.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate.