Ep36: Perla Marina Rodriguez

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
A case that has captured my attention is the murder of Perla Rodriguez in Wichita, Kansas. In this episode, I will take a deep dive into the case, exploring Perla Rodriguez's life story, the events leading up to her murder, the investigation and search for the killer, the trial and conviction of the murderer, the impact of her death on the community, and the advocacy and activism that has emerged in response to the tragedy.

Introduction and Background of the Case
Rodriguez was born June 1, 1975, in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico,
Perla worked as the Outreach Director at Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center for six years. Rodriguez supervised over nine outreach advocates. Before this, she had worked as a Coordinator of Program services at WASAC, where she worked for five years and was promoted to the Outreach Director position. Rodriguez was a fierce advocate but known as a sweet person.
Helena Popejoy was a colleague of Rodiguez, and she and others worked harder because of the loss of their friend. "The journey is far from over. It drives and paralyzes us every day," said Popejoy.
Rodriquez worked directly with sexual assault victims, and she also worked with Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. "We miss her tremendously," said Popejoy. "She was a beautiful soul," said Cherrie Holder, a protection order advocate.
Rodriguez was survived by her parents, Abelardo Arturo Rodriguez-Villegas and Maria T. Rodriguez, of Wichita; daughter, Alexcia Rodriguez, Manhattan, KS; brothers, Jorge L. Rodriguez, Wichita, and Abe (Cassie) Rodriguez, Centennial, CO.
Alexcia lived in Manhattan for school and was unaware of her mother's boyfriend. "She says the news has left her feeling devastated and heartbroken," Alexcia said her mother looked for the best in people.
"She never would focus on the bad things about someone, just the good things," Alexcia says. "...She was very beautiful, very kind."
"She was a strong woman who never gave up on those she loved. The only thing I find, even though she is no longer here, is the impact she left on so many people, even those she barely knew," said Perla's daughter.
"My best friend. I would talk to her about everything. Just every day before work, after work," said Jorge Rodriguez, the victim's brother. "Every day, I pretty much miss her every day. I have my moments where I am angry, upset, depressed, but the biggest pain is watching my family, and she is not with us anymore."

The events leading to Perla Rodriguez's murder

November 13, 2017 (Monday)
Daytime (Estimated)
Rodriguez takes her live-in boyfriend, Travis Becker, for mental health help.
9:31 pm Andover, police called Wichita police Officer Logan Davis #2564 after they found Rodriguez's purse in a parking lot at 215 E 13th St. in Andover. The bag contained many of Rodriguez's items.
10:41 pm The Wichita police went to her home at 2233 North Parkridge Court but could not contact anyone and left.
November 14, 2017 (Early Morning) (Tuesday)

Before 2 am - 2:30 am (Estimated) (The affidavit says 1:45 am), Olathe Police Department called Witcha police regarding a "suspicious character call." They requested that officers contact Rodriguez to see if she knew where her car was. A blue Hyundai Tucson bearing Kansas license plate 287KBH. The tag is registered to Travis Becker, 2233 N. Parkridge Ct. Wichita, KS.

Officer Soto of Wichita police then attempted to call Rodriguez after finding her phone number, 316-655-7842, in a public directory, but Officer Clausius, an officer with Olathe Kansas Police Department, answered and said they had contact with Travis Becker Jr. (A live-in boyfriend of Rodriguez)
"They (officers) also observed what appeared to be fresh scratches to his face and a cut to his hand," the document states. "Olathe Police stated Travis was in possession of a 1998 Honda Accord, which is registered to Perla Rodriguez. Olathe Police also located a cell phone, wallet, credit card, and identification belonging to Perla Rodriguez. The wallet had blood on it."
After this information, Witchita Officers found the body of Perla Rodriguez at home after they forced entry in the 2200 block of North Parkridge and 21st and 119th streets on the city's northwest side.
Rodriguez was lying on the floor of the primary bedroom by the bathtub and next to the sink with multiple traumatic injuries to her head and throat. There was blood on the bed as well. Her cause of death was so apparent that officers knew she had suffered blunt trauma. Then she was pronounced dead by the medical response team called after the forced entry at 3:57 am.
"Officers observed a wooden handle shovel inside the master bedroom in plain view. The blade of the shovel was covered with blood and what appeared to be Ms. Rodriquez's hair."
Announced later in the news Lt. Todd Ojile said Rodriguez died of blunt force trauma. They also revealed that she was the outreach director at the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center.
Olathe police found and arrested Becker for possession of marijuana later in Olathe because Becker's sister called in and said he had acted strange.
After the Miranda rights, Becker was asked when he last Rodriguez by Officer Perez.
"Travis said that he last saw Perla on November 10, 2017, in Wichita and that she had gone to Mexico to help her parents. He later changed the timing and said he last saw Perla on Monday, November 13, 2017. He said they went to see his doctor at Prairie View together, and the meeting did not go well. He believed the people in the next room were laughing at him."
Perez took Beck to the Olathe Police Department, and without being asked while processing paperwork, Becker told him this;
He "drove 3000 mph in the Honda" to get to Olathe to go to his sister's house because he wanted to tell his sister that he had killed Rodriguez and that he had the ashes of his deceased son. Becker said his sister had Rodriguez help kill the boy. "as he was a congenital heart defect baby and he had so many surgeries." Beck told the officer that his deceased nephew watched him kill Rodriguez by hitting her in the head.
So the Wichita investigators traveled there to interview him.

The investigation and search for the killer

Autopsy (Estimated Time)
Rodriguez had a daughter who had to help identify her mother by giving police a statement of her mother's tattoo at the base of her neck, in the middle of her upper back and ankle.

The autopsy determined Rodriguez had "multiple bruises to her arms and hands, a large laceration to her neck, and a large injury to her head and face that appear to be from multiple impacts with an instrument consistent with the blade of the shovel that was located near the body."

Dr. Gorrill determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death to be a homicide.

November 16, 2017
News of the murder spreads, and people that know her are shocked.

Following Perla Rodriguez's murder, the Wichita Police Department launched an investigation to find her killer. They worked tirelessly to gather evidence and interview witnesses. With the help of the community, they were able to identify the killer and track him down. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
November 14-15, 2017 (Morning) (Wednesday)
Travis Becker Jr., Rodriguez's boyfriend, was transported back to Witchita, Kansas. Becker was thirty-eight or thirty-seven at the time of Rodriguez's murder. Sedgwick County Jail records showed he was held without bail Wednesday morning on first-degree murder. Later he remained jailed with a $250,000 bond.
December 6, 2017
A court document filed on this date but later released by the news explains the case in detail.

(Evening)
Becker's sister states the news to help clarify. She did have a son Teri Becker who died on February 10, 2014, from congenital heart defect complications, and the hospital did a complete autopsy. Teri Becker's ashes have always been in her possession and never with her brother.

"I had no contact with my brother that night or for over a year previous to this incident. The police were called by us about a suspicious character before we even knew it was my brother," she says. "I do not condone his behavior, nor would I had aided him. I never knew Perla. My deepest sympathies go out to her daughter, family and friends."
The trial and conviction of the murderer

November 16, 2018 (Friday)
Becker waived his right to trial and entered a plea for first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. This charge means that Becker will be eligible for parole at 25 years instead of 50, as the first charge would have demanded. However, prosecutors plan on asking for the terms to be served consecutively as he is also likely to do 13 to 15/12 years for the aggravated kidnapping.

"Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office says Becker initially pleaded 'not guilty' and changed that plea Friday."

Becker changed his plea one year after her death.

January 2, 2019 (Wednesday)
Becker was scheduled for sentencing.

On this day, Becker was sentenced to 35 years in prison before he was eligible for parole by Judge Kevin O'Connor. Becker had a public defender who was Jason Smartt. The charge was the first-degree murder of Perla Rodriguez. He will also serve a consecutive 186-month sentence for aggravated kidnapping. (This is the only article that says he was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The others say 25-to-life along with 15 1/2 for battery and kidnapping.)

Becker spoke of his remorse and regret for taking another life and expressed deep sorrow for the pain he had caused Rodriguez's family and friends. He also asked for forgiveness from those who were affected by his actions but acknowledged that it would be hard to come by given what he had done.

"I would like to tell the family I'm sorry...that I killed her, I killed Perla. I would trade places with her in a heartbeat," said Becker.

Family and friends filled the courtroom to explain why Becker needed maximum time.

"Words can't describe how I feel. As many already know, my mom lived her life helping others," said the victim's daughter, Alexia Rodriguez. "But I never imagined,it would be her undoing. Each day, I carry so much anger because she lived her last days helping a person who did not want help and did not deserve her."

The sentencing marks an end to a tragic case that has left many people shaken and questioning how something like this could happen in their community. While justice has been served in this case, it will never bring back Perla Rodriguez or heal the wounds inflicted upon her loved ones by Becker's heinous act.
The impact of Perla Rodriguez's death on the community
November 21, 2017
Rosary for Rodriguez was held at 9:30 am with a funeral service at 10:-- am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 645 N. 119th St. W. Wichita. Private family and close friends burial at resurrection cemetery at 1:00 pm. Resurrection Cemetery 1640 N. Maize Rd Wichita, Kansas 67212
"WASAC staff and board are saddened by the loss of our coworker and friend, Perla Rodriguez. Perla was a critical member of our team providing guidance for the education and outreach we do in our community. We miss her terribly. Our love and support go out to those who knew her and especially to her family. We are grateful to our community, who have reached out to our staff during this difficult time with thoughts of care and compassion. Your support means so much to us and further demonstrates how much Perla meant to WASAC and our community."
April 2018 (Estimated)
Rodriguez was given an award posthumously. Visionary Voice Award by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center for sexual violence prevention.
the death of Perla Rodriguez has had a profound impact on the community. Her family and friends have been devastated by the loss of such a kind and caring person..
Advocacy and activism in response to the tragedy
In response to the tragedy, many in the community have become advocates and activists for victims of domestic violence. The case of Perla Rodriguez highlights the issue of domestic violence and the need for stronger legal protections for victims. Domestic violence is a pervasive problem in our society and affects millions of women and men each year. It is a complex issue that is often kept hidden from public view, making it difficult to address.
Conclusion and call to action for justice for victims of domestic violence
The murder of Perla Rodriguez was a senseless act of violence that has left a lasting impact on the community. It is important that we continue to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence and work towards providing support and resources for victims. We must also hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and ensure that justice is served for victims like Perla Rodriguez. If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please reach out for help. Together, we can make a difference.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit their website at www.thehotline.org.

BIG THANK YOU ON EACH CASE RESEARCH for HandsOffMyPod:
Ominously Positive True Crime (weathersrabbits.blogspot.com)