Félix Verdejo Sánchez, Olympic boxer, has been found guilty in the horrific murder of his pregnant partner, Keishla Rodrguez. Verdejo, a 27-year-old professional boxer, was subjected to a nearly month-long trial in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico.
Rodrguez disappeared on April 29, 2021, after having scheduled a meeting with Verdejo to discuss her pregnancy. Her lifeless body was found two days after her family reported her disappearance in a lagoon in San Juan. Forensic investigation revealed that she had been drugged and drowned.
The jury, composed of three women and nine men, pronounced Verdejo guilty of abduction leading to death and causing the death of an unborn child. However, they couldn’t reach a consensus on charges linked to carjacking and weapon possession during a violent crime.
The Impact of the Verdict
The defence team attempted to depict Verdejo as a non-violent and respectable individual by presenting nine witnesses. But the compelling evidence against him tipped the scale towards guilt, leading the jury to their verdict after three days of discussion.
The sentencing for Verdejo is slated for November 3, and he faces the possibility of life imprisonment for the grave offences he has been convicted of. While this verdict brings closure to Keishla Rodrguez’s grieving family, they expressed their hope that Verdejo will pay for his deeds throughout his lifetime.
This heartbreaking incident triggered protests across Puerto Rico and shed light on the ongoing crisis of violence against women in the region. In 2021 alone, 53 women and girls fell victim to gender-based violence. This verdict underscores the urgent need to address this critical issue.
Keishla Rodrguez, an animal lover and employee at a pet grooming business, will be remembered by her family and the community. On the other hand, her killer, a once-aspiring Olympic athlete, awaits his impending fate.
