A murder trial in Washington state has taken an unexpected twist after a juror involved in the conviction of a man for a deadly stabbing was himself accused of committing a vicious knife attack just days later. Allegedly, the suspect claimed he was “sent by Jesus” during the incident.
Kevin Rodriguez, aged 35, was found guilty on April 10 of second-degree murder for the 2019 death of 56-year-old Evodio Garcia Martinez. He was also convicted of two counts of assault, as reported by The Seattle Times.
Prosecutors stated that Rodriguez wielded butcher knives during the assault. The Monroe Police Department reported that he was discovered in an apartment, bloodied and brandishing knives, before being restrained by others present at the scene.
Now, Rodriguez’s legal team is pushing for a retrial, citing that one of the jurors, referred to as “Juror 14,” was apprehended three days later for a violent stabbing during a home invasion in Everett.
The Seattle Times detailed in their report that the motion claims the juror, a 20-year-old male, forced entry into a townhouse and attacked multiple victims with a knife.
In Everett, Washington, police tape cordoned off a crime scene where defense attorneys argue a juror from a recent murder case was involved in a stabbing spree. (FOX 13 Seattle)
The disturbing details of that attack were outlined in court documents obtained by FOX 13 Seattle, which said the suspect told victims he was “sent by Jesus” and claimed to be the “right hand of Jesus” during the attack.
Authorities say the suspect, identified in local reporting as Connor Wohlleben and described as a “friend of a friend,” showed up at the home, banged on the door and forced his way inside when someone answered. Once inside, he allegedly headed upstairs with a knife and began attacking the victims.
Investigators say a 45-year-old mother and her 18-year-old daughter were stabbed, while a third family member, a 22-year-old woman, managed to stop the attack by putting the suspect in a chokehold until deputies arrived.
“Absolutely courageous of the 22-year-old,” Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Courtney O’Keefe said, adding that her actions “potentially saved the lives of her family members and herself,” according to FOX 13.
Police tape surrounds a crime scene in Everett, Wash., after a violent stabbing incident that defense attorneys claim involved a juror from a recent murder trial. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Deputies who responded recovered a knife, and the suspect was arrested on suspicion of burglary and two counts of first-degree assault. He was later booked into jail, where bail was set at $500,000, according to jail records.
The suspect was allegedly involved in a stabbing trial days before the alleged knife attack. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the April 13 stabbing but has not publicly confirmed the suspect is the same individual who served on the Rodriguez jury.
However, Rodriguez’s defense claims the accused attacker is “Juror 14” and is asking the court to order an evidentiary hearing to examine the juror’s mental state during the trial and deliberations. The motion also alleges juror misconduct and raises broader concerns about the integrity of the verdict, according to The Seattle Times.
Rodriguez’s case has already gone through years of legal challenges. He was previously convicted of manslaughter in 2021, but that conviction was overturned on appeal, leading to the retrial earlier this month, according to local reports.
Rodriguez’s attorney, Karim Merchant, told People “the juror’s arrest is not the only reason we are requesting a new trial.”
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced May 13.
Fox News has reached out to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and Rodriguez’s defense attorney for comment.
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