Former Puerto Rican professional boxer, Félix Verdejo Sánchez, known for representing Puerto Rico in the 2012 Olympics, has been found guilty in the heart-wrenching murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz. The 30-year-old athlete faced trial and was convicted on two charges related to the crime by a jury on Friday.
The distressing incident unfolded when 27-year-old Keishla Rodríguez went missing on April 29, 2021, after arranging to meet Verdejo to inform him of her pregnancy. Shockingly, two days later, her lifeless body was discovered in a lagoon in San Juan. An autopsy revealed the tragic cause of death—drowning after being injected with fentanyl and xylazine, a sedative commonly used for animals.
After nearly a month-long trial held at the US District Court of Puerto Rico, the jury, consisting of three women and nine men, deliberated for three days before delivering the verdict. Verdejo was found guilty of kidnapping resulting in the death of Keishla and their unborn child, a heart-wrenching conclusion to the case that gripped the nation.
However, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on two additional charges related to a carjacking that led to the death of another individual and the possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
The victim’s grieving family expressed their relief and hoped that Verdejo would carry the weight of his actions for the rest of his life. Keishla’s tragic case sparked widespread protests in Puerto Rico, bringing to the forefront the serious issue of violence against women on the island.
Verdejo, who vehemently denied any involvement in the crime, was arrested on May 2, 2021, after thorough investigations by authorities. Now, he faces the possibility of a life sentence for the crimes he has been found guilty of, subject to the sentencing scheduled for November 3.
The former boxer’s defense team has chosen not to comment on the verdict as the community grapples with the devastating aftermath of this tragedy. In the wake of Keishla’s murder and the alarming rise in gender-based violence, Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency in January 2021, highlighting the urgent need for measures to protect women’s safety and uphold their rights. As the nation mourns the loss of Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz, the case serves as a somber reminder of the importance of combating violence against women and striving for a safer society for all.
