Missing Student from Univ of North Dakota

[The1calledTKE]

FARGO, N.D. — Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. (search) was scheduled to appear in federal court in Fargo on Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. attorney's office said. Prosecutors planned a news conference afterward but declined comment until then.



The move means it's possible that Rodriguez, a convicted sex offender, would be eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Neither North Dakota nor Minnesota, where Sjodin's body was found last month, has the possibility of the death penalty in state court.

Rodriguez, 51, of Crookston, Minn., was arrested in December and has been in custody since on a state kidnapping charge. Federal authorities could increase the charge to kidnapping resulting in death, which carries the possibility of the death penalty.

Drew Wrigley, U.S. attorney for North Dakota, declined to comment.

Northeast Central District Judge Lawrence Jahnke has issued a gag order barring attorneys on both sides from talking about the state case.

Sjodin, 22, of Pequot Lakes, Minn., disappeared from a Grand Forks shopping mall parking lot on Nov. 22. Her body was found April 17, near a county road northwest of Crookston.

Federal charges have been expected because authorities believe Rodriguez crossed state lines while committing the crime.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119739,00.html

[exlurker]

Update: Guilty Verdict in Dru Sjodin Murder Trial

CNN reports that Rodriguez has been found guilty:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/08/30/sl....ap/index.html

(Ms Sjodin was a Gamma Phi Beta, and trial coverage said that one of her Gamma Phi sisters testified at the trial.)

[Tom Earp]

Good, the more animals like this found and prosecuted the better.

Now, if they can just follow through with the death penatly!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stagebear]

the only issue is the defensive was trying to prove that the federal charges dont apply since no one can say for sure if she was alive when she was taken across state lines (that's what makes it a federal case). hopefully the medical examiner's testimony will help the jury make the right call.

[SydneyK]

Looks like North Dakota has gotten its first death sentence in over a century. Story is here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060922/..._student_trial

Edited b/c I goofed and wrote decade instead of century. Thanks, stagebear.

[stagebear]

actually, more than a century

[Aphigal]

I hope Dru is at peace, knowing she fought hard enough to leave the evidence needed to convict her killer.

[stagebear]

i'm happy it's all finally over and everyone can begin to heal. it's been quite a tragedy for everyone from the family to her sorority and even to the state. things like this aren't supposed to happen in ND.