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Rodriguez served 23 years in prison after the third assault and In March, federal prosecutors announced that they would not
after he was ordered to serve his previously stayed sentence. He pursue the death penalty as federal executions were put on hold
was released in May 2003. by the Dept. of Justice.

Investigators picked up Rodriquez and questioned him on “Right now, he’s serving life in prison without the possibility of FEATURE
Nov. 26, 2003. He admitted that he was in Grand Forks four parole,” Tom Heffelfinger, the former U.S. Attorney for the District
days earlier to shop for clothes and claimed he also saw of Minnesota, told “20/20.”
a showing of the movie “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.”
Investigators said the movie was not being played at the times Dru Sjodin’s memory and legacy would be felt for years to come.
that Rodriguez claimed he saw it. Her school set up a scholarship in her name and Congress would
name the National Sex Offender Public Website after Dru Sjodin
Rodriguez allowed investigators to search his car. Special which allowed states to share their data.
Agent Daniel Ahlquist of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal
Apprehension told “20/20” that knives were found in the trunk Her father said he still listens to the final voicemail she left on his
and glove compartment of the vehicle. phone and remembers the good she brought into people’s lives.
“She had a huge heart, she had a beautiful smile and she was
At the same time, crime scene experts examined the knife just a fantastic young lady that went way, way too soon,” Allen
sheath that was found next to Sjodin’s car and determined it Sjodin said.
was part of a set that came with a folding knife typically sold
at Menards.

“They showed us the knife that was associated with the
sheath. And you could have knocked me over with a feather
because I had just seen that exact knife in Alfonso’s trunk,”
Ahlquist said.

Rodriguez provided the knife to investigators when they asked
and came down to the station for further questioning. He denied
being involved with Dru Sjodin’s disappearance. A search of
Rodriguez’s car found blood specks on the rear window and
back seat which later matched the missing woman’s DNA.

“I believe that she may have been hit in the face or something
that caused bleeding,” Ahlquist said.

As the search crews continued to look for Dru Sjodin’s body,
police arrested Rodriguez and charged him with kidnapping.
Five months of searches by police, neighbors and others turned
up no sign of the missing woman but on April 17, 2004, Dru
Sjodin’s family would get tragic news. Bob Heales……..I was interviewed last summer along with her
brother and several of the law enforcement involved in her case.
Her body was found in a ravine that was just under freshly We are hoping the documentary will help teach safety and
melted snow just outside of Crookston. She was naked from the awareness for women and children and adds to Dru’s legacy.
waist down with her hands bound behind her back. The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Registry was signed into
law by President Bush in June 2006. Her mother has worked
“It was absolutely a horrible day, but it was, it was a day of um, tirelessly ever since helping to educate women and children and
a day of relief at, cause at that point we, you know, knew that save lives. Her killer faced federal charges and was sentenced
Drusie was no longer with us,” Allan Sjodin said. to death in 2006. Sadly, this past year the Biden Administration
removed him from death row and resentenced him to life in a
Because Dru Sjodin’s case took place across state lines, it Florida prison. He wanted to go back to prison for life anyway
became a federal case and Rodriguez was eligible for the death since he was uncomfortable on the outside. He just didn’t
penalty. He was convicted of a kidnapping resulting in death know it would become federal by taking her across state lines.
charge on Aug. 30, 2006. Ironically, he was rewarded and got what he wanted.

Rodriguez was sitting on death row for 15 years when the judge As a result of my involvement, I almost immediately got involved
who issued the sentence overturned the death penalty in an in another missing person case after Dru was found. Locally, 21
appeal ruling. Judge Ralph Erickson cited numerous factors year old Erica Dalquist went missing 18 months earlier after
including issues with the medical examiner’s testimony and accepting a ride home from a bar. My team and I found her
a failure by Rodriguez’s defense team to pursue an insanity remains in a remote area just 2 weeks later, exactly 4 weeks
defense. after Dru was found.
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