Shoe, DNA match in Dru Sjodin case
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2003 2:19 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105246,00.html
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Law enforcement officials searching for college student Dru Sjodin revealed two new pieces of the puzzle over her disappearance — blood found in the car of the suspect in the case appears to match Sjodin's and a single shoe belonging to the 22-year-old was discovered near a river.
Grand Forks County Sheriff Dan Hill confirmed Tuesday that officials had a preliminary match linking the blood found in Alfonso Rodriguez Jr.'s maroon, four-door 2002 Mercury Sable to the DNA of Sjodin.
Hill also said that Rodriguez's car had other potential clues. Officials found a knife, described as a Jack knife with an approximately four-inch, jagged-edged blade, Hill said.
The knife was found in some kind of solution, but Hill said authorities did not know if the solution was accidentally or deliberately spilled on the knife. Hill also said that officials found a sheath in the parking lot where Rodriguez's car was located that likely matches the knife.
The other discovery was that of the shoe. Hill said a shoe was found near the Red Lake River last week and Sjodin's roommate identified it as belonging to the University of North Dakota student. Law enforcement divers were sent to the scene.
Rodriguez, a 50-year-old convicted sex offender, was charged with Sjodin's kidnapping last week. His car was discovered in the Grand Forks shopping mall parking lot where Sjodin, who worked at a Victoria's Secret in the mall, vanished Nov. 22
Sjodin, of Pequot Lakes, Minn., was last heard talking to her boyfriend on a cell phone after she left her job.
Sjodin's father said Monday he was dismayed to find that police recovered a knife from Rodriguez's car. But given his criminal past, he said he was not surprised.
"You know what? It's probably true," Allan Sjodin said. "That's his modus operandi."
The Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported in Tuesday editions that investigators used Sjodin's toothbrush for the DNA match to blood found in the car. The St. Paul Pioneer Press and Grand Forks Herald also reported the match.
A judge sealed evidence in the case after Rodriguez's arrest.
Prosecutors have said they would not object to a motion by several media groups to unseal the evidence. Rodriguez's public defender, David Dusek, planned to file his response to the motion on Tuesday, after which the judge will decide whether to make the information public.
Rodriguez was interviewed by authorities last week, but has since declined to speak with investigators. He has said through his attorney that he is innocent.
"If he is the man who did this, we hope he'll give us information that will help us find Dru," the missing woman's brother, Sven Sjodin, said Tuesday on Fox News. "But at this point, he's not saying anything."
Bail for Rodriguez has been set at $5 million, but Rodriguez said he wanted to stay in jail because of fears for his safety. He faces a preliminary hearing Feb. 4 and arraignment Feb. 6.
Rodriguez is a convicted rapist who has a history of attempted kidnapping with adult women, and has used a weapon in at least one assault. He was registered as a predatory offender, the classification for those believed to be at the highest risk of committing another sex crime.
Rodriguez was released from a Minnesota prison in May after serving 23 years for an attempted abduction in 1979. Wayne Swanson, who prosecuted Rodriguez, said Rodriguez tried to abduct a woman off the street, and stabbed her when she fought back.
Investigators said they planned to expand their search for Sjodin to areas south of Grand Forks this week.
Police Capt. Mike Kirby said searches would continue until officials have firm reason to believe Sjodin is dead.
"We are committed to this. The family is out and we will be out," Kirby said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Law enforcement officials searching for college student Dru Sjodin revealed two new pieces of the puzzle over her disappearance — blood found in the car of the suspect in the case appears to match Sjodin's and a single shoe belonging to the 22-year-old was discovered near a river.
Grand Forks County Sheriff Dan Hill confirmed Tuesday that officials had a preliminary match linking the blood found in Alfonso Rodriguez Jr.'s maroon, four-door 2002 Mercury Sable to the DNA of Sjodin.
Hill also said that Rodriguez's car had other potential clues. Officials found a knife, described as a Jack knife with an approximately four-inch, jagged-edged blade, Hill said.
The knife was found in some kind of solution, but Hill said authorities did not know if the solution was accidentally or deliberately spilled on the knife. Hill also said that officials found a sheath in the parking lot where Rodriguez's car was located that likely matches the knife.
The other discovery was that of the shoe. Hill said a shoe was found near the Red Lake River last week and Sjodin's roommate identified it as belonging to the University of North Dakota student. Law enforcement divers were sent to the scene.
Rodriguez, a 50-year-old convicted sex offender, was charged with Sjodin's kidnapping last week. His car was discovered in the Grand Forks shopping mall parking lot where Sjodin, who worked at a Victoria's Secret in the mall, vanished Nov. 22
Sjodin, of Pequot Lakes, Minn., was last heard talking to her boyfriend on a cell phone after she left her job.
Sjodin's father said Monday he was dismayed to find that police recovered a knife from Rodriguez's car. But given his criminal past, he said he was not surprised.
"You know what? It's probably true," Allan Sjodin said. "That's his modus operandi."
The Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported in Tuesday editions that investigators used Sjodin's toothbrush for the DNA match to blood found in the car. The St. Paul Pioneer Press and Grand Forks Herald also reported the match.
A judge sealed evidence in the case after Rodriguez's arrest.
Prosecutors have said they would not object to a motion by several media groups to unseal the evidence. Rodriguez's public defender, David Dusek, planned to file his response to the motion on Tuesday, after which the judge will decide whether to make the information public.
Rodriguez was interviewed by authorities last week, but has since declined to speak with investigators. He has said through his attorney that he is innocent.
"If he is the man who did this, we hope he'll give us information that will help us find Dru," the missing woman's brother, Sven Sjodin, said Tuesday on Fox News. "But at this point, he's not saying anything."
Bail for Rodriguez has been set at $5 million, but Rodriguez said he wanted to stay in jail because of fears for his safety. He faces a preliminary hearing Feb. 4 and arraignment Feb. 6.
Rodriguez is a convicted rapist who has a history of attempted kidnapping with adult women, and has used a weapon in at least one assault. He was registered as a predatory offender, the classification for those believed to be at the highest risk of committing another sex crime.
Rodriguez was released from a Minnesota prison in May after serving 23 years for an attempted abduction in 1979. Wayne Swanson, who prosecuted Rodriguez, said Rodriguez tried to abduct a woman off the street, and stabbed her when she fought back.
Investigators said they planned to expand their search for Sjodin to areas south of Grand Forks this week.
Police Capt. Mike Kirby said searches would continue until officials have firm reason to believe Sjodin is dead.
"We are committed to this. The family is out and we will be out," Kirby said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
