Ireneparalegal
04-13-2006, 07:54 PM
(AP) BOSTON A 23-year-old woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to slashing the throat of her friend's 9-month-old baby and leaving him to bleed to death in retaliation for being asked to move out of their apartment.
Natalie Rodriguez, of Chelsea, was to go to trial on first-degree murder charges but instead pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and kidnapping in the December 2002 slaying of Xavier Antonio Miranda.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Rodriguez was sentenced to life in prison -- with the possibility of parole after 15 years -- plus an additional 14 to 15 years for the kidnapping.
The earliest she could be released from prison would be in 26 years, with three years credit for time served.
Rodriguez was close to Xavier's mother, Giselle Colon, whom she'd known since they were children, and had a son with Colon's brother. Authorities say the family asked her to move into their house after Rodriguez lost her job at a Social Security office.
But family members said the arrangement didn't work out. Rodriguez frequently drank, often became belligerent, and didn't pay rent. Eventually, the family asked her to leave. Her deadline was the day she killed the baby, prosecutors said.
With her plea, she admitted taking the baby from his crib, slashing his throat then leaving him by a trash can by a neighbor's driveway.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Natalie Rodriguez, of Chelsea, was to go to trial on first-degree murder charges but instead pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and kidnapping in the December 2002 slaying of Xavier Antonio Miranda.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Rodriguez was sentenced to life in prison -- with the possibility of parole after 15 years -- plus an additional 14 to 15 years for the kidnapping.
The earliest she could be released from prison would be in 26 years, with three years credit for time served.
Rodriguez was close to Xavier's mother, Giselle Colon, whom she'd known since they were children, and had a son with Colon's brother. Authorities say the family asked her to move into their house after Rodriguez lost her job at a Social Security office.
But family members said the arrangement didn't work out. Rodriguez frequently drank, often became belligerent, and didn't pay rent. Eventually, the family asked her to leave. Her deadline was the day she killed the baby, prosecutors said.
With her plea, she admitted taking the baby from his crib, slashing his throat then leaving him by a trash can by a neighbor's driveway.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)