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The Crime in Detail: Félix Verdejo and the Murder of Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz

On April 29, 2021, Félix Verdejo, once a celebrated boxer, lured his 27-year-old girlfriend, Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz, into a meeting under the guise of resolving tensions surrounding her pregnancy. Instead, this meeting became the setting for a premeditated and gruesome crime.

Timeline of Events

  1. The Setup
    According to court testimonies, Verdejo pressured Rodríguez to get an abortion, fearing the impact her pregnancy would have on his career, marriage, and public image. When she refused, Verdejo conspired with Luis Antonio Cádiz-Martínez, a childhood friend, to eliminate her.

  2. Abduction and Assault
    Rodríguez was lured into Verdejo’s Dodge Durango under false pretenses. Once inside, Verdejo punched her in the face, incapacitating her. Cádiz-Martínez testified that they then injected her with a combination of drugs, including fentanyl and xylazine (a veterinary sedative), to further subdue her.

  3. Binding and Weighing Down
    The pair tied Rodríguez’s body with a metal wire to a cement block to ensure it would sink once disposed of. This preparation highlights the calculated and premeditated nature of the crime.

  4. The Bridge and the Lagoon
    Verdejo and Cádiz-Martínez drove to the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge in San Juan, where they threw Rodríguez—still alive—into the San José Lagoon. Verdejo reportedly jumped into the water afterward to ensure she would not survive.

  5. Discovery of the Body
    Two days later, on May 1, 2021, Rodríguez’s body was found floating in the lagoon. An autopsy revealed she had drugs in her system and that she was still alive when submerged. The cause of death was determined to be drowning.

Cádiz-Martínez’s Role

Cádiz-Martínez later became a key witness for the prosecution. He admitted to his involvement in the crime and cooperated with authorities, providing a detailed account of the events. His anonymous 911 call led investigators to the location of Rodríguez’s body.

Verdejo’s Motive

Rodríguez’s mother, Keila Ortiz Rivera, testified that Verdejo had repeatedly threatened her daughter to abort the pregnancy. His motive was rooted in fear of public scandal and the disruption it could bring to his life as a married man and public figure.

Public Outrage

The heinous nature of the crime shocked Puerto Rico and the world. Protests erupted across the island, highlighting the epidemic of gender-based violence and demanding justice for Rodríguez. This case became emblematic of systemic issues related to the protection of women in Puerto Rico.

The murder of Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz remains a tragic and harrowing example of intimate partner violence taken to its most extreme form. It has left a legacy of sorrow but also sparked critical conversations about justice and safety for women.

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