Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990                   TAG: 9003290537
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN 
SOURCE: MONICA DAVEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                LENGTH: Short

GIRLFRIEND SLASHER GETS LIFE SENTENCE

Circuit Judge William Sweeney said nothing in a presentencing report had convinced him to change a jury's recommendation in December that Rodriguez, 32, get the maximum penalty allowed.

Rodriguez's attorney, Harvey Lutins, described his client as "not a model person."

"He's not a model citizen. He's not a model in any respect," said Lutins. "But we do know that by virtue of this tragedy he's filled with grief to say the very least. And he should be."

Lutins asked Sweeney to set punishment at a prison sentence less than life, saying that Rodriguez's grief and shame were great punishment already and that Rodriguez already had begun the process of rehabilitation.

Commonwealth's Attorney James Updike said those factors did "nothing to mitigate the unprovoked and horrendous act" committed by Rodriguez.

Last April, Rodriguez chased 23-year-old Vickie Wright around her Bedford County home, stabbing at her and leaving a blood trail in what amounted to "torture," Updike said. The chase ended in her bedroom, where Rodriguez cut Wright's throat and left a message in blood professing his love for her, the prosecutor said.

Rodriguez was found laying near Wright. He had left a slash wound in his own neck. The couple's 15-month-old baby was found nearby, unharmed.

Rodriguez, who buried his face in his arms during his trial, sat up during his brief sentencing hearing Wednesday. When the judge asked him if he wanted to say anything, Rodriguez did not respond.