Montevideo, Minnesota – A retired crime scene investigator has raised concerns about critical errors in the police procedure of the death investigation of Refugio Rodriguez. The investigator’s review comes after police referred the case to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension due to oversights and questionable decisions in the original investigation. Rodriguez was found dead in Chinhinta Park on Sept. 20, 2020, and the initial incident report indicated that he was found hanging from a tree. However, further examination revealed that Rodriguez was actually found on his knees with a hose wrapped around his neck and attached to a tree.
The retired crime scene investigator, Sal Rastrelli, with over 30 years of experience, specializes in cases involving suicides and homicides. After reviewing the investigative documents related to Rodriguez’s death, Rastrelli found critical errors in the police procedure that compromised key evidence collected from the crime scene and failed to document crucial details related to the hose found around Rodriguez’s neck. The investigation was marred by oversights and questionable decisions, leading to the ruling of Rodriguez’s death as a suicide and the subsequent closure of the case by Montevideo police.
Given the questionable handling of the case, authorities have referred it to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for further review. The discrepancies in the initial incident report, along with the new information brought to light by the retired crime scene investigator, have raised concerns about the accuracy of the ruling. This development has prompted a reexamination of the case and renewed efforts to uncover the truth behind Rodriguez’s death.
As the investigation continues, the details surrounding Rodriguez’s death remain shrouded in uncertainty. The critical errors in the police procedure and the need to reevaluate the evidence collected from the crime scene have put the case back into the spotlight. The search for justice for Refugio Rodriguez persists as authorities seek to uncover the truth about the circumstances surrounding his tragic death in Montevideo, Minnesota.