Content Warning this case contains details of a graphic murder and pertains to the Latin community, relationships, and partner abuse. No explicit photos but occasional unsavory comments on social media about the victim.
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November 13, 2017 (Monday)
Daytime (Estimated)
Rodriguez takes her live-in boyfriend, Travis Becker, for mental health help.
https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/man-sentenced-to-35-years-in-prison-for-killing-wichita-woman/
9:31 pm Andover, police called Wichita police Officer Logan Davis #2564 after they found Rodriguez's purse in a parking lot at 215 E 13th St. in Andover. The bag contained many of Rodriguez's items.
10:41 pm The Wichita police went to her home at 2233 North Parkridge Court but could not contact anyone and left.
http://kake.images.worldnow.com/library/d0c7b76e-eedd-4af1-95a1-9dd948ffeabc.pdf
https://www.kake.com/story/37009696/autopsy-finds-wichita-woman-was-beaten-to-death
https://www.kake.com/story/36840569/police-identify-victim-suspect-in-northwest-wichita-homicide
November 14, 2017 (Early Morning) (Tuesday)
Before 2 am - 2:30 am (Estimated) (The affidavit says 1:45 am), Olathe Police Department called Witcha police regarding a "suspicious character call." They requested that officers contact Rodriguez to see if she knew where her car was. A blue Hyundai Tucson bearing Kansas license plate 287KBH. The tag is registered to Travis Becker, 2233 N. Parkridge Ct. Wichita, KS.
Officer Soto of Wichita police then attempted to call Rodriguez after finding her phone number, 316-655-7842, in a public directory, but Officer Clausius, an officer with Olathe Kansas Police Department, answered and said they had contact with Travis Becker Jr. (A live-in boyfriend of Rodriguez)
"They (officers) also observed what appeared to be fresh scratches to his face and a cut to his hand," the document states. "Olathe Police stated Travis was in possession of a 1998 Honda Accord, which is registered to Perla Rodriguez. Olathe Police also located a cell phone, wallet, credit card, and identification belonging to Perla Rodriguez. The wallet had blood on it."
After this information, Witchita Officers found the body of Perla Rodriguez at home after they forced entry in the 2200 block of North Parkridge and 21st and 119th streets on the city's northwest side.
Rodriguez was lying on the floor of the primary bedroom by the bathtub and next to the sink with multiple traumatic injuries to her head and throat. There was blood on the bed as well. Her cause of death was so apparent that officers knew she had suffered blunt trauma. Then she was pronounced dead by the medical response team called after the forced entry at 3:57 am.
"Officers observed a wooden handle shovel inside the master bedroom in plain view. The blade of the shovel was covered with blood and what appeared to be Ms. Rodriquez's hair."
Announced later in the news Lt. Todd Ojile said Rodriguez died of blunt force trauma. They also revealed that she was the outreach director at the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center.
Olathe police found and arrested Becker for possession of marijuana later in Olathe because Becker's sister called in and said he had acted strange.
After the Miranda rights, Becker was asked when he last Rodriguez by Officer Perez.
"Travis said that he last saw Perla on November 10, 2017, in Wichita and that she had gone to Mexico to help her parents. He later changed the timing and said he last saw Perla on Monday, November 13, 2017. He said they went to see his doctor at Prairie View together, and the meeting did not go well. He believed the people in the next room were laughing at him."
Perez took Beck to the Olathe Police Department, and without being asked while processing paperwork, Becker told him this;
He "drove 3000 mph in the Honda" to get to Olathe to go to his sister's house because he wanted to tell his sister that he had killed Rodriguez and that he had the ashes of his deceased son. Becker said his sister had Rodriguez help kill the boy. "as he was a congenital heart defect baby and he had so many surgeries." Beck told the officer that his deceased nephew watched him kill Rodriguez by hitting her in the head.
So the Wichita investigators traveled there to interview him.
https://www.kake.com/story/39497405/wichita-man-pleads-guilty-in-girlfriends-death
https://www.kake.com/story/36840569/police-identify-victim-suspect-in-northwest-wichita-homicide
https://www.kake.com/story/37009696/autopsy-finds-wichita-woman-was-beaten-to-death
http://kake.images.worldnow.com/library/d0c7b76e-eedd-4af1-95a1-9dd948ffeabc.pdf
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Man-charged-with-first-degree-murder-in-Wichita-womans-death-458308083.html
November 14-15, 2017 (Morning) (Wednesday)
Travis Becker Jr., Rodriguez's boyfriend, was transported back to Witchita, Kansas. Becker was thirty-eight or thirty-seven at the time of Rodriguez's murder. Sedgwick County Jail records showed he was held without bail Wednesday morning on first-degree murder. Later he remained jailed with a $250,000 bond.
Officer Charley Davidson identified the victim and suspect.
https://twitter.com/NicholeManna/status/930830072038215681
Witchita Area Sexual Assault Center creates a Facebook post about Rodiguez.
"WASAC staff and board are saddened by the loss of our coworker and friend, Perla Rodriguez. Perla was a critical member of our team providing guidance for the education and outreach we do in our community. We miss her terribly. Our love and support go out to those who knew her and especially to her family. We are grateful to our community, who have reached out to our staff during this difficult time with thoughts of care and compassion. Your support means so much to us and further demonstrates how much Perla meant to WASAC and our community."
https://www.facebook.com/Wichitasac/posts/1758935164139030
https://www.kake.com/story/39497405/wichita-man-pleads-guilty-in-girlfriends-death
https://www.kake.com/story/36840569/police-identify-victim-suspect-in-northwest-wichita-homicide
https://www.kake.com/story/37009696/autopsy-finds-wichita-woman-was-beaten-to-death
https://twitter.com/policiawichita/status/930839228287803392
Autopsy (Estimated Time)
Rodriguez had a daughter who had to help identify her mother by giving police a statement of her mother's tattoo at the base of her neck, in the middle of her upper back and ankle.
The autopsy determined Rodriguez had "multiple bruises to her arms and hands, a large laceration to her neck, and a large injury to her head and face that appear to be from multiple impacts with an instrument consistent with the blade of the shovel that was located near the body."
Dr. Gorrill determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death to be a homicide.
http://kake.images.worldnow.com/library/d0c7b76e-eedd-4af1-95a1-9dd948ffeabc.pdf
https://twitter.com/HutchPost/status/938607916604674048
November 16, 2017
News of the murder spreads, and people that know her are shocked.
"as one of our coalition member organizations. This feels like a death in the family."
https://twitter.com/KCSDV/status/931175408535527426
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716133/perla-rodiguez-wichita-ks-murder/
November 16- 17, 2017
Becker was charged with first-degree murder. He's currently held in the Sedgwick County jail on a $250,000 bond.
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Court-documents-show--462370593.html
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Man-charged-with-first-degree-murder-in-Wichita-womans-death-458308083.html
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716133/perla-rodiguez-wichita-ks-murder/
Initially, he had pleaded not guilty.
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Man-charged-with-girlfriends-deadly-beating-pleads-guilty-to-murder-500715971.html
First-degree premeditated murder was the first charge, but later it was switched to First-degree felony murder and aggravated kidnapping. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116715795/perla-rodiguez-murder-wichita-ks/
November 17, 2017
Statement of Solidarity Loss Within Anti-Violence Advocacy Community Member Perla Rodriguez, Director of Outreach, Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center (WASAC) Murdered by Partner
https://www.niwrc.org/news/statement-solidarity-loss-within-anti-violence-advocacy-community-member-perla-rodriguez
November 21, 2017
Rosary for Rodriguez was held at 9:30 am with a funeral service at 10:-- am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 645 N. 119th St. W. Wichita. Private family and close friends burial at resurrection cemetery at 1:00 pm. Resurrection Cemetery 1640 N. Maize Rd Wichita, Kansas 67212
https://www.affinityallfaithsmortuary.com/obituary/4443433
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/kansas/name/perla-rodriguez-obituary?id=12433934
November 30, 2017
Court date for Becker.
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Man-charged-with-first-degree-murder-in-Wichita-womans-death-458308083.html
December 6, 2017
A court document filed on this date but later released by the news explains the case in detail.
http://kake.images.worldnow.com/library/d0c7b76e-eedd-4af1-95a1-9dd948ffeabc.pdf
(Evening)
Becker's sister states the news to help clarify. She did have a son Teri Becker who died on February 10, 2014, from congenital heart defect complications, and the hospital did a complete autopsy. Teri Becker's ashes have always been in her possession and never with her brother.
"I had no contact with my brother that night or for over a year previous to this incident. The police were called by us about a suspicious character before we even knew it was my brother," she says. "I do not condone his behavior, nor would I have aided him. I never knew Perla. My deepest sympathies go out to her daughter, family, and friends."
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Court-documents-show--462370593.html
April 2018 (Estimated)
Rodriguez was given an award posthumously. Visionary Voice Award by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center for sexual violence prevention.
https://www.kfdi.com/2019/01/02/man-sentenced-in-death-of-girlfriend-perla-rodriguez/
https://www.nsvrc.org/es/node/5848
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716069/perla-rodiquez-wichita-ks-murder/
November 16, 2018 (Friday)
Becker waived his right to trial and entered a plea on the charge of first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. This charge means that Becker will be eligible for parole at 25 years instead of 50, as the first charge would have demanded. However, prosecutors plan on asking for the terms to be served consecutively as he is also likely to do 13 to 15/12 years for the aggravated kidnapping.
"Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office says Becker initially pleaded 'not guilty' and changed that plea Friday."
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Man-charged-with-girlfriends-deadly-beating-pleads-guilty-to-murder-500715971.html
Becker changed his plea one year after her death.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116715795/perla-rodiguez-murder-wichita-ks/
January 2, 2019 (Wednesday)
Becker was scheduled for sentencing.
https://www.kake.com/story/39497405/wichita-man-pleads-guilty-in-girlfriends-death
On this day, Becker was sentenced to 35 years in prison before he was eligible for parole by Judge Kevin O'Connor. Becker had a public defender who was Jason Smartt. The charge was the first-degree murder of Perla Rodriguez. He will also serve a consecutive 186-month sentence for aggravated kidnapping. (This is the only article that says he was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The others say 25-to-life along with 15 1/2 for battery and kidnapping.) https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/man-sentenced-to-35-years-in-prison-for-killing-wichita-woman/
Twenty-five years to life, along with 15 and a half years for battery and kidnapping.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716110/perla-rodiguez-wichita-ks-murder/
"I would like to tell the family I'm sorry...that I killed her, I killed Perla. I would trade places with her in a heartbeat," said Becker.
Family and friends filled the courtroom to explain why Becker needed maximum time.
"Words can't describe how I feel. As many already know, my mom lived her life helping others," said the victim's daughter, Alexia Rodriguez. "But I never imagined,it would be her undoing. Each day, I carry so much anger because she lived her last days helping a person who did not want help and did not deserve her."
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Man-charged-with-girlfriends-deadly-beating-pleads-guilty-to-murder-500715971.html
https://apnews.com/article/1a8a73d546904a28a19a3d40be80e748
https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/man-sentenced-to-35-years-in-prison-for-killing-wichita-woman/
https://www.kfdi.com/2019/01/02/man-sentenced-in-death-of-girlfriend-perla-rodriguez/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116715795/perla-rodiguez-murder-wichita-ks/
Perla Marina Rodriguez
Rodriguez was born June 1, 1975, in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, and was murdered November 14, 2017, at forty-two in Witchita, Kansas.
Perla worked as the Outreach Director at Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center for six years. Rodriguez supervised over nine outreach advocates. Before this, she had worked as a Coordinator of Program services at WASAC, where she worked for five years and was promoted to the Outreach Director position. Rodriguez was a fierce advocate but known as a sweet person. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716069/perla-rodiquez-wichita-ks-murder/
Helena Popejoy was a colleague of Rodiguez, and she and others worked harder because of the loss of their friend. "The journey is far from over. It drives and paralyzes us every day," said Popejoy.
Rodriquez worked directly with sexual assault victims, and she also worked with Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. "We miss her tremendously," said Popejoy. "She was a beautiful soul," said Cherrie Holder, a protection order advocate. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116715795/perla-rodiguez-murder-wichita-ks/
Rodriguez was survived by her parents, Abelardo Arturo Rodriguez-Villegas and Maria T. Rodriguez, of Wichita; daughter, Alexcia Rodriguez, Manhattan, KS; brothers, Jorge L. Rodriguez, Wichita, and Abe (Cassie) Rodriguez, Centennial, CO.
Alexcia lived in Manhattan for school and was unaware of her mother's boyfriend. "She says the news has left her feeling devastated and heartbroken," Alexcia said her mother looked for the best in people.
"She never would focus on the bad things about someone, just the good things," Alexcia says. "...She was very beautiful, very kind."
"She was a strong woman who never gave up on those she loved. The only thing I find, even though she is no longer here, is the impact she left on so many people, even those she barely knew," said Perla's daughter.
"My best friend. I would talk to her about everything. Just every day before work, after work," said Jorge Rodriguez, the victim's brother. "Every day, I pretty much miss her every day. I have my moments where I am angry, upset, depressed, but the biggest pain is watching my family, and she is not with us anymore."
https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/man-sentenced-to-35-years-in-prison-for-killing-wichita-woman/
Rodriguez was 2017's 27th homicide of the year in Wichita, Kansas.
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Man-arrested-accused-of-killing-girlfriend-457475823.html
https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Man-charged-with-girlfriends-deadly-beating-pleads-guilty-to-murder-500715971.html
https://www.affinityallfaithsmortuary.com/obituary/4443433
https://www.nsvrc.org/es/node/5848
Sources (Repetitive)
https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2017/12/07/autopsy-finds-wichita-woman-was-beaten-death-shovel/16518269007/
https://www.facebook.com/kwchnews/posts/a-year-after-perla-rodriguez-died-in-her-home-the-man-accused-of-fatally-beating/10156873754222421/
https://www.580wibw.com/wichita-man-sentenced-for-beating-girlfriend-to-death-with-shovel/
https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/ks/wichita/perla-marina-rodriguez-6438536
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716181/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716185/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716287/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716294/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716305/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716309/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716321/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116716330/
Maybe Sources? Unknown.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/perla-rodriguez-325826185/
http://wichitasac.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/February-2013.pdf
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