Killer of North Dakota College Student Dru Sjodin Formally Sentenced to Death


By DAVE KOLPACK

FARGO, N.D. Feb 8, 2007 (AP)— A rapist who killed college student Dru Sjodin six months after being released from prison was formally sentenced to death Thursday in a case that led to tougher sex-offender laws.

U.S District Judge Ralph Erickson also rejected a motion for a new trial for Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 53, who was convicted last fall of kidnapping resulting in death.

Sjodin, 22, a University of North Dakota student from Pequot Lakes, Minn., disappeared from a Grand Forks shopping mall parking lot in 2003. Her body was found nearly five months later in a Minnesota ravine. Authorities said she had been beaten, raped and stabbed.

Before Sjodin's slaying, Rodriguez had served more than 20 years for offenses that included rape and attempted kidnapping. He got out of prison about six months before the killing.

Continued: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2859988

He should never have been released. While I support the death penalty whole-heartedly I think this guy should rot in a cinderblock room with no windows, no contact with other humans, no outside exercise and nothing tasty to eat for the rest of his life. Oh yeah, he should get a bucket for a toilet and have to sleep on the floor.

I dont know how it works in the US but in australia with sex offenders they are offered rehabilitation while in jail. I know its not a fail-safe option, I think it should be mandatory for sex offenders before being released, If they dont complete the rehabilitation then they shouldnt be let out of jail.
But scum like this are usually predicted by social workers and penitentary workers to be high risk repeat offenders, in that case they shouldn't be allowed out regardless of the amount of time they serve

I'm not sad to hear this. I'm glad the judge & jury had the courage to do what had to be done. Since he had only been out for 6 months before he did this, I'd almost bet that he was up to no good earlier than that! He just didn't get caught. That alone says volumes! Even the judge was brought to tears! He's been on the bench since '95 & I'm sure he's seen a lot of murders & rapists in that time...THIS CRIME HAD TO BE BAD!!!

Yay US justice system! I say we should just make all sex offenders eunichs, problem solved.

Oh, and female sex offenders should be eaten. Alive.

oh yea, but I am glad he got sentenced to death.