BY EMMA PLATOFF | The Texas Tribune

SAN ANTONIO — The courtroom was silent and thick with anxiety Thursday morning as the judge’s deputy read the verdicts: “Guilty,” “guilty,” “guilty” — 11 times over, and on all felony counts.

Press Release
-District Clerk’s Office

Maverick County District Clerk Leopoldo Vielma would like to inform the public of a court order requiring the County to distribute a jury summons to a random selection of jurors. The summons is on behalf of the Honorable Judge Cynthia Muniz 293rd District Court Judge. The summons is for Monday, December 11, 2017 at 4:00 PM, at the annex courthouse located at 500 Quarry Street, Second Floor.

Jaclyn Guzmán

Staff Writer

   Polo Vielma District Clerk del Condado tiene la esperanza de generar respuestas a los 1,500 avisos de convocatoria de jurados que se han emitido a los residentes del condado de Maverick que fueron seleccionados al azar por el estado.

Jose G. Landa

Staff Writer

   Juan E. Rodriguez Ruiz, 51, accused of the murder of his estranged wife, Maria Pecina Rodriguez, age 42, faced a jury of his peers on Wednesday, February 22, at the 365th Maverick County District Court under the guide of Judge Amado Abascal.

   During the first day of trial a jury was selected and on Wednesday the trial began with opening remarks and testimony of vital witnesses including Eagle Pass Police officers, investigators,  detectives, and Eagle Pass Fire Fighters/EMT who were involved in the incident on December 24, 2015. 

   One of the first witnesses brought in to testify on behalf of the state was a first responder from the EPFD who stated that upon entering the scene he had found an unresponsive middle age woman who had what appeared to be an gunshot wound to the temple.

   The witness then stated that he proceeded to check the victim for vital signs.

“She was pulseless.” said the witness “ We confirmed that and we then exited the scene and contacted a justice of the Peace.” 

  Maverick County Assistant District Attorneys Robert Little and Rene Munoz then proceeded to present their second witness to the case bringing to the witness stand EPPD Sargent to Detectives Joe De La Garza who was responsible for crime scene evidence gathering and recovery.

  “I was called in to recover evidence,“ said De La Garza “I initially made contact with the officers and everyone that was there.”  

  De La Garza then described to an attentive jury the process of evidence gathering and certain things that occurred during the process.

   De La Garza described the recovery of a spent gun shell casing, and how the following day they had gone back and proceeded to seek other evidence including a cell phone, which was eventually found in the area thrown on the street, and a shirt both of which are part of the case being presented.

   De La Garza also went into detail as to the eventual recovery of a firearm in a trash can in an area far away from the crime scene.

   De La Garza was questioned by the prosecutors over the recovery of the weapon, and even showed evidentiary photographs of that scene.

   “That is the trash can where the weapon was located.” said De La Garza describing the picture shown.

   De La Garza stated that they the proceeded to recover the weapon in the most careful manner as to not damage any evidence.

  “The Serial number was scratched off the weapon,” said De La Garza

   Little then proceeded to submit photos of the victim’s forensic autopsy into evidence, a process that De La Garza was also involved in.

  “That is the bullet fragment that was recovered from the victims body,” said De La Garza, describing one of the pictures.

  Rodriguez Ruiz’s Murder Jury trial is expected to continue throughout the week and other witnesses, including those for the defense, are to be presented as the trial continues.

  It is important to note that an accused is innocent until proven in a court of law. 

Rodríguez Ruiz se enfrenta al jurado por asesinato 

Jose G. Landa

Staff Writer

   Juan E. Rodríguez Ruiz, de 51 años, acusado del asesinato de su esposa, Maria Pecina Rodríguez, de 42 años de edad, se enfrentó a un jurado compuesto por 13 personas ; 7 hombres y 6 mujeres  el miércoles 22 de febrero de 2017 en Maverick County District Court en la corte  del Honorable juez Amado Abascal.

   Durante el primer día se seleccionó un jurado y el miércoles comenzó el juicio con comentarios de apertura y  testigos que participaron en el incidente el 24 de diciembre, 2015.

   Uno de los primeros testigos traídos a testificar en nombre de la fiscalía / estado fue  el primero que respondió de el EPFD que declaró que al entrar a la escena había encontrado una mujer de edad media que no respondió que tenía lo que parecía ser una herida de bala en la cabeza.

   Robert Little, fiscal adjunto del condado de Maverick y Rene Muñoz, procedieron a presentar su segundo testigo del caso, llevando al estrado   al  Sargento de detectives Joe De La Garza, del departamento de policia, quien fue responsable de la recolección y recuperación de pruebas de la escena del crimen.

   "Me llamaron para recuperar evidencia. "Dijo De La Garza" Al entrar estaban los oficiales  allí ".

   De La Garza describió entonces a un jurado atento el proceso de recopilación de pruebas y ciertas cosas que ocurrieron durante el proceso.

   De La Garza también entró en detalles en cuanto a la eventual recuperación de un arma  en un bote de basura en un área muy alejada de la escena del crimen.

   De La Garza fue interrogado por los fiscales sobre la recuperación del arma incluso mostró fotografías probatorias de esa escena.

   Entonces procedió a presentar  las fotos de la evidencia de las víctimas la autopsia forense y  de el proceso en donde  De La Garza también estuvo implicado 

   Se espera que el juicio de jurado de asesinato de Rodríguez Ruiz continúe a lo largo de la semana y otros testigos, incluidos los de la defensa, se presentarán a medida que continúe el juicio.

   Un acusado es inocente hasta que se demuestre en un tribunal de justicia su culpabilidad.

Jose G. Landa

Staff Writer

The 365 Maverick County District Court, under Judge Amado Abascal, commenced the murder trial of defendant Juan E. Rodriguez Ruiz, 51, who is accused of the murder of his estranged wife, Maria Pecina Rodriguez, age 42, on Tuesday, February 21, 2017.