By Carlos Gonzalez
PUERTO RICO – The members of the jury in the trial against former boxer Félix Verdejo observed in detail the images of the body of Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz when it was delivered to the Institute of Forensic Sciences.
On the sixth day of the trial that is taking place in the Federal Court for the District of Puerto Rico, forensic pathologist Rosa Rodríguez Castillo described on Tuesday the explicit photos taken during the autopsy that was performed on the victim on May 1, 2021, which presented multiple traumas to the face, in addition to the beginning of the decomposition process.
The Public Ministry presented the crude photos of the body, which had already begun to decompose due to the time it was submerged in the water of the San José Lagoon.
The woman was reported missing on April 29 and found on May 1, 2021.
Keishla’s complexion showed brown tones, yellow and purple patches, as well as her deformed face, the skin on her hands, and her hair beginning to peel off. Rodríguez Castillo described that Keishla was dressed in a royal blue scrub, a shirt with cloud and animal designs, as well as plain pants, brown tennis shoes, turquoise and mustard blue stockings, and a black bra with buttons.
In addition, the pathologist explained that the victim suffered multiple facial traumas before being thrown into the lagoon.
“She had an abrasion on her neck, more prominent on the upper back, swelling and distortion of the area. She had a bruise on her left cheek and two bruises in the jaw area. A bruise on the right ear, another on the right cheekbone and in the right jaw area. In the upper part of the nose, there is evidence of a fracture of the nasal septum, in this case a deviation from left to right, ”she said in the room.
He also testified that Keishla Rodríguez was tied with a wire from her neck to her abdomen and her hands to her ankles, tied to a cement block. That made it impossible for her to swim.
Rodríguez Castillo also confirmed that the victim was alive when she was thrown into the San José Lagoon, where her semi-submerged body was recovered by the authorities among the mangroves.
“In this particular case, water was found in the spheniodal sinus, compatible with a person who was breathing when thrown into the water,” he said when asked by prosecutor Jeanette Collazo.
The forensic pathologist told the courtroom that during the tests they detected a combination of xylazine and fentanyl, two substances that, combined, would limit a person’s movement capabilities.
Keishla had both in the system. Rodríguez Castillo clarified that during the autopsy it was not possible to find the place where she was injected with the substances.
“Fentanyl has medical and illegal uses. The doctor is like an analgesic for pain in cancer patients. In illegal use, it can be presented in injectable form and in powder form. They can be prepared by simulating pills similar to those prescribed. The effects of fentanyl are to cause decreased breathing, confusion, and unconsciousness. Xylazine, which was present in this case, is not a commercial drug. It is an analgesic for veterinary uses in horses”, he explained.
He also shared that, during the autopsy, it was concluded that the victim was pregnant.
“A management product was found. During the process, due to the advanced state of decomposition, this material had to be preserved for its pertinent analysis. We request the necessary tools to preserve that product. From there the measurements were taken and it was preserved for DNA analysis, ”he indicated.
At the moment, it has not been specified if that DNA test was carried out.
“Based on the premise of the state of decomposition, it was an embryo of approximately three to six weeks,” Rodríguez added.
Judge Delgado Hernández closed the session before the defense began the cross-examination of the witness. The trial will continue on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
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