Thread: TX: Official says convicted murderer likely in Mexico

Official says convicted murderer likely in Mexico
07/02/2008
By JEFF CARLTON / Associated Press

A fugitive who was convicted of murder but didn't show up in court to hear his verdict remained on the lam Wednesday, with South Texas authorities saying it is likely he crossed the border into Mexico.

A jury convicted Oscar Davila Rodriguez, 24, of first-degree murder Tuesday morning in Edinburg, but Rodriguez was nowhere to be found. Later in the day, the same jury sentenced him to 40 years in prison.

Rodriguez was free on a $100,000 bond throughout the trial, which was held about 15 miles from the Texas-Mexico border.

"Everyone is on alert ... but I am sure he is in Mexico somewhere," Hidalgo County prosecutor Michelle Puig said. "I don't think he is anywhere around us."

It is the second time Rodriguez was found guilty of killing ex-girlfriend Nydia Maldonado, 19. On Oct. 31, 2005, she was strangled and then slashed in the throat with tweezers in an attempt to make her death appear a suicide, Puig said.

Rodriguez, who was free on bond throughout his first trial because he had no criminal record, was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to 55 years in prison.

He remained free when a judge threw out the murder conviction because a witness mentioned a polygraph test that was supposed to have been barred from evidence.

Robert Salinas, Rodriguez's attorney, said he was "surprised and disappointed" when his client didn't show up Tuesday to hear the verdict. Rodriguez had shown up for every prior court hearing, Salinas said.

Rodriguez's conspicuous absence made it difficult Tuesday afternoon for Salinas to argue for a light sentence, the attorney said.

"Trust me — I have been practicing law for a number of years," Salinas said. "It is very difficult to argue without the presence of your client."

Rodriguez is 5-foot-8 and weighs about 130 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes and no facial hair. Puig said he wears distinctive dark eyeglasses, but expected him to get a new pair.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... TU3O3.html

why the hell is someone charged with murder even allowed out on bail

Rodriguez was free on a $100,000 bond throughout the trial, which was held about 15 miles from the Texas-Mexico border.

WHY WAS HE ALLOWED TO BE FREE ON BOND? How stupid! Mexicans that commit crimes of that nature should NEVER be allowed to walk out on bond. I guarantee he will be back in our country committing more crimes under a different name.

If he has any family in the US, he will be back. He won't have an easy time on the lam in mexico.