TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Suspect in robbery, stabbing pleads not guilty

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: June 23, 2009

SEBRING - The man charged with trying to rob a Lake Placid woman before stabbing her husband over Memorial Day weekend entered a written not guilty plea at his Monday arraignment.

Juan Rodriguez, 21, of 18 Siesta Lane, Lake Placid, was charged with attempted murder and armed robbery. He is next due in court for a pretrial conference on Aug. 20.

Rodriguez is accused of going into the Lupita Grocery Store at 269 Highlands Blvd. and threatening to kill employee Elena Consepcion-Delaluz. The situation escalated after she left work and the defendant tried to take her purse and pull her into a dark, bushy area, according to law enforcement.

At the time, Rodriguez reportedly was holding a knife to the woman's throat.

Consepcion-Delaluz was able to escape and get back into the store before a co-worker gave her a ride home. Authorities said Rodriguez was later found yelling outside the couple's home. The woman's husband, Catalino Diaz Gonzalez, came outside and was allegedly stabbed by the defendant several times with a knife.

Gonzalez was flown to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment. Lt. Tim Lethbridge, with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, said Monday that the victim has been released from the hospital.

"He's no longer requiring medical treatment," Lethbridge said.

Rodriguez remained in the Highlands County Jail Monday under a $200,000 bond.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT