Former boxer Félix Verdejo was found guilty Friday of charges related to the 2021 murder of his pregnant girlfriend.
A jury found Verdejo guilty of kidnapping that leads to a death and causing the death of an unborn child. The jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict on the charge of intercepting and stealing a vehicle with the consequence of causing a death or carrying a weapon to commit a violent crime.
Verdejo, 30, was convicted of killing 27-year-old Keishla Rodriguez by throwing her off a bridge. He was named a “person of interest” in the investigation before turning himself into the police on May 2, 2021, according to
One of Verdejo’s friends, Luis Antonio Cádiz, testified against Verdejo, telling the court that the boxer pressured Rodriguez to get an abortion. He is married to another woman and has a daughter.
Cádiz was also charged in connection to the case. He pleaded guilty in exchange for his testimony. He is awaiting sentencing.
Rodriguez was allegedly injected with a liquid and tied her arms and feet to a block before throwing her off a bridge. The Associated Press reports that Rodriguez’s autopsy report revealed she had fentanyl and xylazine in her system.
Her body was found in a lagoon in the Puerto Rico capital of San Juan just days after being reported missing.
Verdejo is facing life in prison when he is sentenced on November 3.
He once represented Puerto Rico at the 2012 Olympics and had a 27-2 professional boxing record, according to Bleacher Report.
