In a shocking conclusion to a one-month trial, Olympic boxer Félix Verdejo Sánchez has been found guilty of the horrific kidnapping and murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz, nearly two years after her lifeless body was discovered in a lagoon.
After competing for Puerto Rico in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Verdejo, now 30, faced a jury consisting of three men and nine women at the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico. The verdict was delivered on Friday, with the former athlete found guilty on two counts: kidnapping resulting in deἀth and causing the deἀth of an unborn child. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other two charges. The sentencing for Verdejo is scheduled for November 3.
Rodríguez Ortiz’s father, José Antonio Rodríguez, expressed his heart-wrenching sentiments to reporters after the verdict was delivered. “May he live the rest of his life thinking about everything he did to my daughter,” he said.
While he did not wish for Verdejo’s deἀth, he hoped that he would carry the weight of his actions with him for the rest of his life. Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz’s tragic deἀth sparked widespread protests across Puerto Rico, shedding light on the urgent issue of violence against women.
Do you know that Ethan Crumbley, the Michigan high school shooter responsible for the deἀths of four students and injuring seven more, was heard in a recorded manifesto revealing his malicious intentions the night before the horrific tragedy at Oxford School:
In response to the outcry, Governor Pedro Pierluisi declared a state of emergency for gender violence in the territory, drawing attention to the deep-rooted issues of machismo, discrimination, and inequality that had contributed to this devastating crime. In a statement, Governor Pierluisi emphasized his commitment to putting an end to gender violence and creating a safer environment for women.
“Gender violence is a social evil, based on ignorance and attitudes that cannot have space or tolerance in Puerto Rico that we aspire to,” he said. The declaration of a state of emergency signifies the government’s determination to take action against such heinous acts and to promote education, awareness, and meaningful change in society.
As the verdict is handed down, it serves as a solemn reminder of the importance of addressing gender-based violence and working collectively to prevent such tragedies from occurring. The legacy of Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz will forever resonate as a symbol of the urgent need for societal transformation, ensuring that women are treated with respect, dignity, and equality.
Though justice has been served with the guilty verdict, the scars of this tragic event will remain with the victims’ families and the Puerto Rican community. The hope now lies in the collective determination to create a society free from violence, where every individual can thrive without fear or harm, and where love, compassion, and respect reign supreme.
