The sentencing phase of the Rosendo Rodriguez trial is set to start on Monday.
A Randall County jury found 28 year old Rosendo Rodriguez guilty on two counts of capital murder on Friday. One of the counts was for raping and murdering 29 year old Summer Baldwin in September of 2005; and then stuffing her body in a suitcase. Baldwin’s body was found in the Lubbock landfill. The second count was for the murder of her unborn child. An autopsy revealed Baldwin was five weeks pregnant at the time of the murder.
A number of character witnesses will be called to the stand Monday morning to determine what type of punishment Rodriguez will receive. Rodriguez could face the death penalty. Among them may be the parents of Joanna Rogers. Joanna was a Lubbock High School teen who disappeared in 2004. Her body was also found in a suitcase in the Lubbock landfill. Investigators say there is information linking Rodriguez to Joanna's death.
The Randall County judge will decide whether or not the Rogers family will be allowed to say Rodriguez may have killed their daughter.
