This archive report was first published on 3 May 2021.
On Sunday, May 2, 2021, Félix Verdejo Sánchez, a 27-year-old Puerto Rican boxer, turned himself in to law enforcement officials in Puerto Rico, facing charges related to the murder of a pregnant woman, Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz.
According to a federal complaint, Verdejo, a former Olympic boxer, is accused of punching Rodríguez Ortiz, injecting her with an unknown substance, tying her body to a block, and throwing her from a bridge into the San Jose Lagoon in San Juan.
On Friday, May 1, 2021, Rodríguez Ortiz, who was 9 months pregnant, disappeared after meeting Verdejo in his black Durango SUV. Her body was found on Saturday, May 2, 2021, and was identified through dental records.
Verdejo, who represented Puerto Rico at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, is facing charges of kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, and killing an unborn child. The charges carry a maximum penalty of death, although no decision has been made on whether to pursue that penalty.
According to the federal complaint, Verdejo contacted a witness and requested their help to terminate Rodríguez Ortiz's pregnancy. The witness cooperated with the investigation and provided information that led authorities to Verdejo.
Verdejo's boxing record is 27-2, with 17 knockouts. Top Rank, a boxing promotion company, released a statement expressing their thoughts and prayers for Rodríguez Ortiz's family and the people of Puerto Rico.
