Monday, June 14, 2021

The Sentencing of Elizabeth Rodriguez

“Hitting a lick”

By Robert A. Waters

Elizabeth Rodriguez told reporter Tina Whitworth, “I feel guilty, but not responsible” for the deaths of Maxwell Cook, 18, Jacob Redfearn, 18, and Jaykob Woodruff, 15.

The March 27, 2017 home invasion near Broken Arrow, Oklahoma had gone incredibly bad. Rodriguez, single mother of three children, had planned the heist and coerced the trio to go along with her plan. (Earlier that morning, they had broken into the home’s detached garage and stolen electronic equipment and liquor.) Now, in the mid-afternoon, they were back to ransack the main dwelling.

Later, a Wagoner County probable cause affidavit stated that “Rodriguez planned the burglary and took the three suspects to the residence on two separate occasions on today’s date wanting to steal items. [She] instructed the three suspects to burglarize the residence while she waited in the driveway in her vehicle...”

After kicking in a back door to the large brick home, the masked intruders entered the kitchen. 

Zachary Peters, 23, lay sleeping when he heard “loud bangs” and glass breaking. Frightened, he grabbed his AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and stepped into the hallway. He saw three men standing in the kitchen. Each wore masks, gloves, and dark clothing. After a brief verbal exchange, Peters opened fire. He then retreated to his bedroom and called 9-1-1.

Outside, Rodriguez heard the gunshots. Seconds later, Jaykob Woodruff stumbled out to the getaway car. He informed Rodriguez he’d been shot, then fell to the pavement. Rodriguez sped off.

Peters told the dispatcher that “one [invader is] in the kitchen, one crawled into the northeast corner bedroom, and the third one I did not shoot. He ran outside.” Peters was mistaken, all three died at the scene.

He later testified that he was afraid for his life. When asked if the suspects had harmed him, he said, “I didn’t give them time to.”

This was not the first break-in the group had committed. Rodriguez admitted that they had done other “licks” in the area. Often, they drove around casing homes in expensive neighborhoods, then fenced the items they stole. She informed investigators that the three teens had not wanted to go back to the Peters residence that day, but she talked them into it.

Even though the Wagoner County District Attorney stated he felt bad for the parents of the deceased intruders, Peters was not charged with any crime. In fact, it was an open and shut case of self-defense.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and received three concurrent 45 year sentences. 

In an unusual twist to this story, none of the teens had police records. In each case, they had strayed from the teachings of loving parents. Max Cook, for instance lived with both parents in a traditional family setting. He played guitar, went to church, and graduated from high school. Yet, even though Rodriguez was five years his senior and had three young children, Max became enamored with the California native. He moved in with her and they began stealing for living.

The deaths of the three teens rocked Oklahoma. Many residents wondered how normal teenagers who grew up in loving homes could make such bad choices. Others asked why the victim (Peters) needed to use a semi-automatic weapon to defend himself. Some questioned the Castle Doctrine law prevalent in Oklahoma and many other states. A handful disapproved of the Felony Murder law that allowed Rodriguez to be charged with murder even though she didn't kill anyone.

One thing is clear. Oklahoma is better off with Elizabeth Rodriguez in prison for the rest of her existence. Her negative influence on three teenagers cost them their lives. For that, she should not be forgiven.

NOTE: When I originally published this story, I mistakenly wrote that the three sentences were consecutive. Several readers corrected me. Thanks. 


25 comments:

Foster Coker said...

Very interesting. I have the same sympathy for home invaders I have for child molesters and rapists...none whatsoever. Let her rot.

Unknown said...

Taking out the trash

BigD_44 said...

When Trump said Mexico wasn't sending their best he hit the nail squarely on the head. She's a fat ugly puta that will have a steady diet of carpet.

NYC cyclist said...

The sentences are concurrent, not consecutive, at least that's what I've read elsewhere. Makes a big diff. Rodriquez could be parole elig in about 30 years.

Not A Sock Puppet said...

When you invade somebodies home, you do it at your own peril. Don't cry for the home invaders.

David Webb said...

"Others asked why the victim (Peters) needed to use a semi-automatic weapon to defend himself" Anyone asking that question is a complete idiot. Would it have been better if they had been killed with an old lever action Winchester? Maybe we should only allow people to defend their homes with muzzle loaders so they can only kill one criminal before the others overpower them?

Kathy said...

@ NYC Cyclist, best years of her life--gone.

Praetorius said...

David, your comment "Would it have been better if they had been killed with an old lever action Winchester?" had me crying with laughter,thank you, i needed that.

I actually live in the area where this happened,i'm glad it went down the way it did,when you are raised correctly breaking into a house thats not yours is akin to someone saying "hey put your hand under this blade,i wanna check something out" your not going to do it, your smarter than that.

Unknown said...

All three of these punks were TRASH. As for this POS she too is TRASH. Send her to solitary confinement for the next 10/20/30 years. What a POS.

Laz said...

@ Kathy I don't know that her spending 30+ years in prison will make the world a better place but I am sure her 'best' years were behind her well before the sentencing. Three kids at 21 and none of the fathers on the scene? Thieving for a living and using children as accomplices? She's a miserable scummer and probably always was.

Unknown said...

Play stupid games win stupid prizes

Unknown said...

Home invasion didn't go bad. Went perfect. The victim wasn't harmed, nothing was took. The criminals removed from society.

Gunluvr said...

She's from California; what do you expect? She could could have gotten slap away; why did she turn herself in? Those four idiots got exactly what was coming to them, good riddance!!!

Unknown said...

@Laz She convinced three kids, two of them 18, one 15, all with no criminal records to commit an armed home invasion. Yeah, the world is definitely a better place with her put away. I don't know how you could think any different. If she had not been in their lives, those kids would not have died that day. You can't blame her entirely for their behavior, they are culpable, but you can blame her for some of it. She picked the house, she convinced them to go back for a second time that day even though they did not want to. While they should have told her no, without her influence they would not be dead. Again, the world is better off with her in prison.

Marc Dantonio said...

The families of the home invaders will have the nerve to say they are going to sue for the deaths of their Kriminal Kidz... Guaranteed.. If this was in California they might have half a shot at winning such a case. But I suspect the times are a-changin' and things like this will not get that far in stupid court.

Unknown said...

@Gunlovr You're profile pic says everything about you. Step out your echo-chamber you unevolved goon.

Unknown said...

It's a shame,since she has 3 children. But you play w/fire...your going to get burned..SPECIALLY IN OKLAHOMA! Its a bigger shame those 3 boys lost the best years of their lives..the whole REST of their lives--gone.

Darrin T. said...

And yet you contribute a personal attack and nothing else to the conversation - while remaining anonymous. How very brave of you.

Lawrence King said...

The only one I feel sympathy for is Mr Peters. The fear he had encountering three masked intruders, having to fire a weapon at another human being, then discovering you are responsible for three deaths. After all that trauma to have the families of these terrorists claim he was in the wrong is the ultimate insult. They demonstrate why their young men were so misguided.

Robert A. Waters said...

Agreed.

Unknown said...

LMAO!!!

The Right Opinion said...

I hope her time in prison is horrific.

Matt S. said...

Concurrent, not consecutive. And 13 are suspended so she'll be out in 32.

Unknown said...

Zach is an incredible young man! He was taught respect, the value of hard work & an education. He was also taught how to defend himself against those that don’t have morals or respect. No one should have to fear for their safety in their own homes! I’m so proud & thankful he had what it took to protect himself that day. Greed and the total lack of common sense resulted in 3 unfortunate deaths and prison for Elizabeth Rodriguez. I will never be able to forgive or forget what they put Zach through that day and have absolutely no sympathy for Miss Rodriguez. I do have sympathy for the families that were affected by the decisions they all made that day. No parent should have to go through what we all did.

George Hilman said...

There are those who work to earn their often meager existence, and there are those who want to do it "the easy way" and take it from someone else.

When they threaten another person, they should get whatever is needed to end their threat forever.

For those who say they should get a second chance, where is the second chance or other reward to those who do not commit felonies? Where is the equity? Where is he justice?

The productive citizens are already paying in the neighborhood of $50 or $60 thousand per year to keep one inmate incarcerated. No justice. That is more than most people net today.