| For Immediate Release Case # 07NF2063
|
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
FULLERTON MAN FACES TRIAL FOR KILLING 43-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR AFTER FINDING HER IN BED
WITH HIS ADULT SON
SANTA ANA – A Fullerton man faces trial today for killing his 43-year-old neighbor after finding her in bed with his adult son. Guillermo Rodriguez, 43, Fullerton, is charged with one felony count each of murder, criminal threats, and dissuading a witness from testifying. If convicted, Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin this afternoon, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, in Department C-42, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Guillermo Rodriguez’s son, Junior Rodriguez, was also charged and convicted in this case (see below).
On the night of Oct. 16, 2006, Guillermo Rodriguez is accused of having a dinner party at his apartment in Fullerton with his girlfriend, four sons, and neighbor Donna Dutton and her 12-year-old daughter. Guillermo Rodriguez is accused of consuming alcohol throughout the night. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2006, Guillermo Rodriguez is accused of leaving the apartment with his girlfriend to purchase more alcohol. When they returned to the apartment, Guillermo Rodriguez is accused of walking into the bedroom of his 18-year-old son, Junior Rodriguez, and finding Dutton in bed with him. The defendant is accused of arguing with Dutton and yelling at his girlfriend and son to leave the room and close the door. Guillermo Rodriguez is accused of strangling and murdering Dutton, wrapping her in a blanket, and leaving the body in the bathroom.
The next evening, Guillermo Rodriguez is accused of carrying the victim out of the apartment and into his girlfriend’s car with the help of Junior Rodriguez. The defendant is accused of driving to Victorville and dumping the body in a remote area. He is accused of instructing his son and his girlfriend to tell police that the victim had left the dinner party at 2:30 a.m. if questioned. Ten days later, hunters came across the victim’s body and notified police.
In December 2006, Rodriguez is accused of telling his new wife, Christina Rodriguez, what he had done to Dutton a couple of months earlier. On March 20, 2007, while at the Fullerton Police Department, Christina Rodriguez called the defendant to discuss the crime. He is accused of dissuading her from telling anyone what he had said.
On May 29, 2007, Guillermo and Junior Rodriguez were arrested. On Jan. 8, 2008, Junior Rodriguez pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of formal probation.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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