Blood Found In Rodriquez' Car~~Story Dru Sjodin

Milwaukee Channel News ^ | 12/4/03

[WestCoastGal]

Report: Video Puts Suspect At Mall Where Sjodin Worked Police Sergeant: Tape Shows Rodriguez In Lot When College Student Disappeared

POSTED: 7:04 a.m. EST December 5, 2003

UPDATED: 7:16 a.m. EST December 5, 2003

Authorities in North Dakota have tapes placing kidnapping suspect Alfonso Rodriguez in the mall parking lot from which authorities believe University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin was abducted last month, a Minneapolis newspaper reported.

According to a report on the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper's Web site, Grand Forks police Sgt. Mike Hedlund said the tapes show the 50-year-old kidnapping suspect in a Grand Forks mall parking lot at the same time Sjodin, 22, disappeared Nov. 22. Hedlund said that hopes of finding Sjodin alive fade with each passing day.

The Star Tribune also reported that a knife sheath was found in the parking lot.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press, citing sources close to the investigation, reported Thursday night on its Web site that police found a blood sample in Rodriguez's car that matched Sjodin's blood type in a preliminary DNA analysis. A more extensive analysis is under way, the newspaper reported.

Another newspaper, the Grand Forks Herald, reported that Rodriguez didn't show up for work the day Sjodin went missing.

Rodriguez, a three-time convicted rapist from nearby Crookston, Minn., is being held on a $5 million bond. His attorney said on Thursday that Rodriguez wants to stay behind bars for his own safety.

The prosecutor said there's little chance he would offer to cut a deal with Rodriguez in exchange for information to help search for Sjodin.

Police say Sjodin likely was on her cell phone when she was abducted. Her boyfriend told police he heard her scream "Oh my God!" before the line went dead. In a call from Sjodin's phone a couple hours later, the boyfriend heard only static and the sound of buttons being pushed. *************************************

My comment: It's just too bad we can't torture this guy to make him say where she is!!!!

[jonalvy44]

totally---torture him to find out hwere she is...there seems to be NO urgency in this matter...she could be alive somewhere. This guy and all sex pervs like him need to be terminated.

[Bikers4Bush]

It's not what kind of people we are but what kind of people we allow to speak for us.

As for why the guy is still alive all I can say is, got me.

The one thing I do know is that vigilantes are not born they are made and the legislature and judicial system add a little piece to them every day by not stopping these freaks dead in their tracks from the beginning.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

...police found a blood sample in Rodriguez's car...

I could never be a cop. If I was there when he was arrested, the police would have found a lot of blood in Rodriguez's cell right after he was captured. And he would have given up her location and condition.

[N. Theknow]

Do you know where this perp worked...

In this screwed up society he probably drove a school bus.

[diamond6]

The ACLU would never allow it, unfortunately.

[Greek]

MESSAGE TO ALL POTENTIAL VICTIMS: IF SOMEONE APPROACHES YOU WITH A GUN OR A KNIFE, NEVER, NEVER, GET INTO THEIR VEHICLE. YOU WILL NOT COME OUT ALIVE. YOUR ONLY CHANCE IS RUN LIKE THE WIND...

[WestCoastGal]

"MESSAGE TO ALL POTENTIAL VICTIMS: IF SOMEONE APPROACHES YOU WITH A GUN OR A KNIFE, NEVER, NEVER, GET INTO THEIR VEHICLE. YOU WILL NOT COME OUT ALIVE. YOUR ONLY CHANCE IS RUN LIKE THE WIND... "

I thought this very same thing when I saw there was evidence in his car. No matter what, you have a better chance of fighting with him or screaming in a public place rather than being forced into his car!!!

Although I don't know how he managed to do this, she may have been incapacitated before she had a chance to do anything.

Hopefully some of the mall video will give some clues.

[sonserae]

Why do they have him classified as "white"? That is the darkest white I've seen.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Your first thought was mine as well. The judicious application of a $3 pair of needlenose pliers might just result in a major break in this case.

[TheDon]

What kind of people are we , that a monster like this is allowed to live among us?

Well said.

[null and void]

Has it been revealed yet if he was an illegal alien? If so, his employer should be charged as an accessory to the crime.

Second generation American, we have quite enough of our own pond scum without having to import more.

[null and void]

What kind of people are we , that a monster like this is allowed to live among us?

We're nice people. (Look up the derivation of 'nice' some time...)

[cardinal4]

If she's dead, hopefully it happened in MN. I think that would make him eligible for a Federal death sentence, that option not being available here in the land of 10,000 leftists.

That surprises me, I would have thought ND was a conservative state..

[null and void]

Why do they have him classified as "white"? That is the darkest white I've seen.

According to the FBI classification system, Mr. Rodriguez is classed as a white if he is a perpetrator, and Hispanic if he's a victim.

No kidding.

(Assuming what was posted on a previous thread is accurate. I haven't verified this little tidbit. Do you doubt it?)

FWIW Asian Indians are Caucasian, even if they are dark as any African. Skin tone has little relation to race.

[WestCoastGal]

Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he'll push for a Minnesota death penalty next year as part a program to combat sex crimes. Pawlenty's statement comes a day after a recently released sex offender was arrested in Crookston in connection with the disappearance last month of 22-year-old Dru Sjodin. Minnesota hasn't had a death penalty case in more than 100 years, and opponents say they'll fight to keep it that way.

St. Paul, Minn. — Saying that he is "fed up" with stories of sexual assault, kidnapping, and repeat sex offenders, Pawlenty vowed to fight next year for a new Minnesota death penalty. The governor says he's long supported a state death penalty, and that the apparent abduction of University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin has only rekindled that conviction.

"When you have somebody who is raping or attempting to rape a woman and trying to kill them or killing them, in my view that's the type of individual that's probably not curable and shouldn't be out on the streets in a free society. So I'd like to see -- I support the death penalty. And I would support the death penalty in a case where we have a sexual assault and a murder or attempted murder," he said.

The governor's comments come one day after the arrest of Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., in connection with Sjodin's disppearance. Rodriguez is a convicted Minnesota sex offender who was released from custody last May after serving a 23-year sentence for first degree assault and kidnapping.

In addition to the death penalty, Pawlenty says he'll seek tougher sentences for sex offenders; more stringent reviews of those nearing the ends of their prison terms; and increased monitoring of released convicts, including irremovable bracelets that can be tracked by satellite.

Sandra Babcock, a nationally recognized death penalty defense attorney, says she understands the shocked reactions that many have to news of abductions and abuse. But she says Pawlenty's proposal runs counter to a recent national trend away from capital punishment.

"He's swimming against the tide; he's swimming against reason. He wants to take the state back to a time in its history in which, I think the state has rejected the death penalty for many decades. There's absolutely no reason to bring it back," says Babcock

[Jim Noble]

He wants to take the state back to a time in its history in which, I think the state has rejected the death penalty for many decades. There's absolutely no reason to bring it back," says Babcock

Here's one:

[null and void]

Yeah, but I bet Ms Babcock is butt uggggggggly and has no daughters, so it doesn't affect her...

[Jackie-O]

Rodriguez's Attorney was just on Abrams and said that his client has chosen NOT to speak with LE again.
This tells me that she is dead, he does not want the body found. POS is probably praying for snow and cold...

[Devil_Anse]

Yes, I heard on cable TV last night that someone said this guy (if he kidnapped and murdered her) would be facing a possible federal death sentence.

I got the impression that that was because of the kidnapping part. The feds, of course, have been deep in the kidnapping penalties ever since the famous kidnappings of the early 20th century.

It would be nice to think whoever did this to this poor girl would be executed for it. And just think--there would be less waiting time till execution, if it were a federal death penalty. (B/C the appeals and coram nobis actions wouldn't have to wend their way through state courts first.)

[sissyjane]

>>Excuse the crudeness, but it should be mandatory that freaks like him should have their nuts cut off as a condition of parole<<

Sounds great, but I don't think his "nuts" killed her. He may have sexually assaulted her, but he also probably killed her.