DEATH PENALTY Archives - KVRR Local News

Alfonso Rodriguez transferred to high security facility in Florida

June 19, 2023

Jim Monk,

FARGO (KVRR) – A man who spent nearly 17 years on death row for the kidnapping and death of Dru Sjodin has been transferred to a federal prison in Florida. Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. was being held in the Special Confinement Unit at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Rodriguez was taken to…

Death sentence reduced to life in prison for man who killed UND student

May 23, 2023

KVRR Staff,

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The death sentence for a Minnesota man who killed a North Dakota college student 20 years ago has been officially changed to life in prison. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ralph Erickson signed the sentence amendment for Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. last week, according to court records. Rodriguez, a sex offender, was convicted in 2007 of…

‘Dead Man Walking’ author discusses Rodriguez case, expects federal executions to decline

Sister Helen Prejean: "Being sentenced to death and following through with it are two very different things."

March 21, 2023

Breeane Bolin,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The case of Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. is one that is well-known in our community. The federal government recently decided not to pursue the death penalty for Rodriguez, Jr. “Being sentenced to death and following through with it are two very different things.” Sister Helen Prejean is a well-known advocate for the people on death row as…

Criminal Justice expert on death penalty abolition 50 years ago in ND

March 15, 2023

Hami Arain,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — It’s been fifty years since the North Dakota legislature banned capital punishment for all crimes. “It is possible that they would decide to implement it again if it seems like the political climate would be right for it. A lot of people who are already sentenced to death are not executed for many, many years. The…

Juror In Rodriguez, Jr. Case Speaking Out After Death Penalty Is Dropped

March 14, 2023

Emily Welker,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — One of the twelve jurors who decided Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. should be executed for kidnapping and murdering Dru Sjodin is speaking out. Luke Lillehaugen was part of the six-week long, three-part trial in 2006 that left Rodriguez sitting on death row in federal prison in Indiana. He says the prospect of Rodriguez getting off death row…

Feds withdraw death penalty for Rodriguez, prosecutor calls decision ‘a grave affront to justice’

March 14, 2023

Jim Monk,

FARGO (KVRR) – Federal prosecutors will no longer seek the death penalty against Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr, the man convicted in the kidnapping and death of Dru Sjodin. U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider says Attorney General Merrick Garland has directed him to withdraw the notice of intent to seek a sentence of death in the case. “My thoughts today are with Dru…

South Dakota prosecutors weigh death penalty in shooting that killed 3

April 28, 2022

Jim Monk,

Francis LangeTYNDALL, S.D. – Prosecutors are weighing whether to pursue the death penalty for a Scotland, South Dakota man if he’s convicted of shooting five people, including three fatally, in Bon Homme County. Forty-two-year-old Francis Lange is accused of killing his former girlfriend, Angela Monclova, as well as her father, Librado Monclova, and Diane Akins. Vicki Monclova and a 5-year-old…

Prosecutors drop appeal in Sjodin killing but will still seek death penalty

March 25, 2022

Jim Monk,

FARGO (KVRR) – Federal prosecutors have suddenly dropped their appeal of a judge’s ruling in September that overturned the death sentence for Alfonso Rodriguez, the man convicted in the 2003 kidnapping and death of Dru Sjodin. On March 3, the U.S. Attorney’s office filed documents stating that prosecutors intended to ask a federal appeals court to overturn Judge Ralph Erickson’s…

Feds will ask appeals court to reinstate death penalty for Rodriguez

March 4, 2022

Jim Monk,

FARGO (KVRR) – Prosecutors will ask a federal appeals court to reverse a federal judge’s order that threw out the death penalty for Alfonso Rodriguez, the man convicted of kidnapping and killing Dru Sjodin. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Fargo has filed a notice that says prosecutors intend to ask the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Judge Ralph…

Prosecutors begin round 2 of arguing Rodriguez death penalty

October 31, 2021

KVRR Staff,

FARGO, N.D. — Prosecutors in North Dakota’s first and only death penalty case say defense attorneys are wrong by claiming the judge didn’t go far enough in explaining why he threw out the sentence for Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. He was convicted of killing UND student Dru Sjodin. Judge Ralph Erickson in September ordered a new sentencing phase be conducted, saying…