Father Accused of Family Torture, Murder Appears in Court

35-year-old Ian Roderiquez allegedly killed his teenage son and tortured his wife and four other children.

VIDEO: Watch Elizabeth Espinosa's Report



Ian Roderiquez appears in court on murder and torture charges. (KTLA News / March 30, 2011)

• VIDEO: Father Charged with Murder, Torture Faces Judge - Elizabeth Espinosa reports

• Sujal Roderiquez and her son, Richard, who was killed in the attack

SAN BERNARDINO (KTLA) -- A 35-year-old father accused of killing his teenage son and torturing his wife and four other children appeared in San Bernardino Superior Court Wednesday morning.

35-year-old Ian Roderiquez was in court to confirm the appointment of his lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Celia Torres.

Prosecutors also got a protective order to keep Roderiquez from having any contact with his family. They say he faces up to six life sentences if convicted.

Roderiquez is currently behind bars and being held without bail.

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Meantime, gruesome new details have been released in the case.

According to a police report, Roderiquez beat his wife and children repeatedly with a monkey wrench, forced them to walk on broken glass and threatened to set them on fire during the 11-hour ordeal.

His eldest son, 16-year-old Richard was beaten so badly he died.

The incident began at about 10 p.m. on March 22 at Roderiquez' home in the 6700 block Merito Avenue in the Del Rosa neighborhood of San Bernardino.

According to police, Roderiquez accused his family of stealing his drugs and then proceeded to attack, beat and torture them for 11 hours.

"He was a bad man to me," neighbor Jo Ann Castillo told KTLA. "I didn't like the way he looked, the way he treated his children, the way he spoke with them. He cursed at them. He denied them of things that we know children should have."

Deputies responded to the home 9:15 a.m. Wednesday after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor reporting a man screaming for help inside the home.

When deputies arrived, they found Richard laying on the garage floor, underneath a car seat, covered with blood.

According to the report, Richard had numerous injuries including a possible broken lower leg, numerous cut and stab wounds all over his body and legs, blunt-force trauma to his left hand and multiple skull fractures.

Roderiquez' four other children -- 13-year-old Jacob, 12-year-old Gabriel, 10-year-old Daniella and 8-year-old Yasmine were found inside the home.

The children had all suffered blunt force trauma wounds and were taken to the hospital.

The surviving children told detectives that their father had forced them to walk barefoot on broken glass. Daniella told them she refused to lay down in the glass, prompting her father to pour bleach on her and threaten to set her on fire.

Roderiquez' wife, 35-year-old Sujal Roderiquez, suffered several stab wounds from a pair of scissors.

Roderiquez was arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, torture and child abuse, said Cindy Bachman, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

According to neighbors, the father was yelling and cursing in the street earlier in the day.

One neighbor said that he yelled at the kids frequently.

"He was a drinker, so he would get in his moods... everybody knew him always yelling at the kids and stuff," Sofia Symeou told KTLA.

Symeou also said the kids showed signs of desperation.

"They would go around asking for food from the neighbors, or money, and whenever we gave them something it was like Christmas to them."

Two of the surviving children are now in protective custody.

Roderiquez pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, one count of attempted murder, four counts of torture, and four counts of child abuse.

Any one wishing to help the family can do so by sending a donation to the Memorial Funds for Richard and Family account at 1st Valley Credit Union, 402 2nd Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401.

It's not angst over custody: fathers kill their children to punish their ex-partners.

Men's murderous revenge

Illustration: Spooner

It's not angst over custody: fathers kill their children to punish their ex-partners.

Since Arthur Freeman was found guilty of murdering his four-year-old daughter, Darcey, much of the media focus has been on the distress of fathers going through separation and custody disputes. There has been a call for more support for fathers.

However, we must ask ourselves whether we are losing sight of the victims and, more importantly, whether this is the best approach to preventing these deaths from occurring in the future.

While the community understandably struggles to comprehend a parent killing a child, our research shows that these are not inexplicable tragedies. There is a particular type of filicide (the killing of children by parents) that occurs in the context of the separation of the parents.

In these ''spousal revenge'' cases - as recognised by the Freeman jury - fathers kill their children to punish their ex-partners. There is usually no prior violence against the children. In fact, they appear to love their children. The act of killing is directed towards harming the child's mother. The motive is revenge.

In the case of Freeman and Robert Farquharson (found guilty of three counts of murder of his sons Bailey, Tyler and Jai, aged two to 10, who drowned in a dam near Winchelsea), both fathers indicated that they wished to punish their ex-partner. Shortly before killing Darcey, Freeman told his ex-wife to say goodbye to her children and that she would never see them again - clearly to make her suffer. Farquharson told a friend that he would make his ex-wife suffer by taking what mattered to her most - her children.

Contrary to some claims, these cases are not about fathers losing access to their children. The reality is that in both cases, the fathers had access to their children and, in both cases, killed them during it.

There is no logic to the thinking that if a person is distressed about not spending enough time with their kids they would decide to kill them.

If, however, they are consumed with anger and hatred towards their ex-partner and wish to hurt them, then it is, tragically, a very effective means to do so.

The killing of the children in such cases should be recognised as a form of violence against the mother. We need to explore the relationship between the parents in order to understand the killing of children. In particular, the father's attitudes and behaviour towards the mother before, and after, separation must be examined. VicHealth has clearly identified the underlying causes of violence against women as including belief in rigid gender roles and a masculine sense of entitlement.

What we really need to challenge is the sense of entitlement that some men have over their families, an entitlement that leads them to believe that their partner has no right to leave them and no right to form a new relationship, and that punishing her is justified because of the suffering they themselves experience.

The current focus of commentary suggests that men are victims of the family law system. The mothers seem to be implicitly blamed for the distress their partners experienced when they left them.

Let's be clear: the first and foremost victims here are the children whose lives are taken. The mothers, whose children have died in perhaps the worst way imaginable, are also the victims, as are remaining siblings and other family members. Darcey Freeman's mother, Peta Barnes, had expressed concerns about the safety of her children before Darcey's death. She also expressed concerns about Arthur Freeman's ''anger management issues'' and mood swings. It is important that such concerns are heard and responded to appropriately by a broad range of professionals coming into contact with separating parents, as well as by family and friends.

The family law process must make children's safety its absolute priority. Importantly, the federal government has a family law bill before Parliament that prioritises the safety of children in family law matters.

The Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoriaacknowledges that separation and family breakdown can be incredibly difficult for parents. Parents should be assisted to deal with separation and encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour. As a community, we need to focus on building positive and respectful relationships.

We support the call for greater services and support. We ask that these services be equipped to identify and respond to risks to the safety and wellbeing of children and their parents. We need to ensure there is accurate and reliable screening and risk assessment for all forms of family violence. These cases demonstrate that the risk of harm to children is closely linked to risks of harm to the mother.

Cases such as Freeman's have a profound impact on the community and we are right to search for answers. Unfortunately, there has been very little research on parents who kill their children in the past decade in Australia. If we are to find ways to prevent these deaths, we need a far better understanding of why and how they occur.

Arthur Freeman: Father is a cold blooded murderer of his 4 year old daughter Darcy Freeman whom was thrown from the west gate bridge to her death. video of the murder scene.

Contains Video Footage of Arthur Freeman Murdering 4 year old Darcy throwing her off the bridge After being awarded shared parenting.

Herald Sun

Galleries: The death of Darcey Freeman http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/photo-gallery/gallery-e6frf94x-1111120724397?page=20

   

Killer father gets life sentence

Chris Grady was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years. (s)

Gary Smee

http://www.eveshamobserver.co.uk/story-Killer-father-gets-life-sentence-37522.html

A FATHER who killed his daughter and attempted to murder his son by driving them into the River Avon has been jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 15 years.
Chris Grady, of no fixed address, was convicted by a majority verdict at Birmingham Crown Court and sentenced on Tuesday (March 22) at the end of a three week trial.
The judge, Mr Justice Lindblom, told the 43-year-old he must serve at least 15 years for the murder of five-year-old Gabby Grady and ten years to run concurrently for the attempted murder of Ryan Grady who was six at the time of last February’s ordeal at Hampton Ferry in Evesham when he drove his car into the freezing river.
Grady has already spent 402 days in custody and this will be deducted from the sentence.
On passing sentence Mr Justice Lindblom said what Grady did would horrify any right-thinking person and had put his defenceless children, who were screaming and crying, in terror.
“Those crimes were born of anger and self-pity,” he said.
“In all of this, Ryan and Gabby were innocent. They were your children, they loved you. They looked to you for protection and support.”
During the trial, jurors heard that Grady had warned the children’s mother, Kim Smith, she had 10 seconds to say goodbye to them before he drove into the water at Hampton Ferry.
Miss Smith, 37, said he arrived at her house in Abbot’s Walk, Evesham, at around 9.15am, telling her to say goodbye, before driving away shouting the word river.
She said his face was contorted and vile with anger.
Grady had denied the charges saying it was an accident but the jury took five hours to find Grady guilty of both counts.
After Grady was led away from the court the judge offered his condolences to Miss Smith.
He said: “I turn to the family and in particular Miss Smith and Ryan (who was not in court).
“I offer them my own sympathy in their loss and I hope that the pain of that loss may now be easier to bear.
“You took from Miss Smith her daughter, and from Ryan his sister. You left your family to grieve.
“She says that what you did has shattered everyone in her family.
“She says that what they go through every day is like a recurring nightmare.’’

For more reaction to the Grady sentencing turn to page 3.

Incestuous German Father Convicted of 162 Counts of Abuse

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/22/incestuous-german-father-convicted-of-162-counts-of-abuse/

A German man whose stepdaughter bore eight of his children has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

"This is about a pitiless egoist. He viewed his family as his property," Judge Winfried Hetger said.

According to ABC News, the defendant, a 48-year-old unemployed truck driver identified only as Detlef S., sat emotionless as he was convicted of 162 counts of sexual abuse.

Detlef, a former resident of Fluterschen, was accused of abusing his stepson and stepdaughter starting in 1987, when they were 4 and 6 years old, and continuing until 2010.

According to Hetger, Detlef also abused his biological daughter, who is now 18.

"When she was 12 years old he took her into a forest and raped her inside his Toyota Corolla," the judge said. "He explained to her that this was something really great."

Detlef forced both the biological daughter and the stepdaughter into prostitution, the judge said. In August, the biological daughter went to police with the molestation and rape allegations that resulted in her father's arrest.

During the trial it was revealed that Detlef had fathered eight children with his stepdaughter. Koblenz state court spokesman Alexander Walter told CNN that all but one of them is alive today. Koblenz was uncertain about the stepdaughter's age at the time of the various births.

Judge Hetger also ruled that Detlef should remain imprisoned indefinitely because there is a high risk that he could offend again if released.

Speaking with ABC News, Detlef's stepson and his sister, identified as Bjoern B. and Natascha S., said they were shaken by the verdict but happy that justice was served.

"Today is a day of truth, a day of justice," said Bjoern B., now 28. "Now we will see how we can continue our lives."

Father tortured family before killing son, wounding wife, four kids, police say

VIDEO HERE: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/father-tortured-family-before-killing-son-wounding-wife-four-kids-police-say.html

San Bernardino police detectives on Thursday continued to investigate a bloody crime scene at a Del Rosa neighborhood home where police say a father tortured his family before his killing 16-year-old son and wounding his wife and four other children.

The Wednesday morning attack was so bloody and vicious that investigators still were trying to determine what weapon, or weapons, were used.

"It wasn't apparent from just looking at the victims if there was a weapon used, or more than one type of weapon used," said Cindy Bachman, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Ian Roderiquez, 35, was arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and torture, she said.

The suspect's wife, 35-year-old Sujal, suffered severe injuries and, along with the four children, remained hospitalized, Bachman said.

"A neighbor about 9:15 [a.m.] called 911, saying that a male subject at a nearby residence was screaming for help," Bachman said.

When police arrived at the house in the 6600 block of Merito Avenue, they detained Roderiquez as he was leaving. Deputies then entered the home and found the victims, Bachman said.

Earlier reports described the attack as a stabbing, but detectives are still trying to determine how the injuries were inflicted, she said.

The teen boy killed was identified as Richard Roderiquez. The injured children were Jacob, 13; Gabriel, 12; Daniella, 10; and Yasmine, 8, officials said.

All of the injured children were expected to survive and will be placed in the custody of the county's children and family services agency when released from the hospital, Bachman said.

KENTUCKY JUDGE CATHERINE RICE-HOLDERFIELD Jails MOTHER Kimberly Harris for NO REASON – ILLEGAL – deprivation of HUMAN Rights..You can Not Shut us all up!!!!

‎Free Kimberly Harris Mother of Christian Coffey Now

Please Follow the following links;  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Kimberly-Harris-Mother-of-Christian-Coffey-Now/198830253477144?sk=wall

 

• Christian's Voice

  Whoa! Supporters are speaking out! Thank you!! Free Kimberly Harris Now! Please share this link.

  

  Judge Catherine Rice Holderfield - Topix

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  Please note by clicking on "Post Comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator. Send us your feedback.

   

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  Christian's Voice

  Rosa Parks went to jail! Kimberly is a HERO, and now an even bigger hero to her son Christian Coffey. The love of a mother. Their bond will NEVER BE BROKEN!

  

  Mariah Carey - Hero [Lyrics]

  www.youtube.com

  Mariah Carey - Hero There's a hero, If you look inside your heart, You don't have to be afraid of what you are, There's an answer, If you reach into your soul, And the sorrow that you know will melt away. [chorus] And then a hero comes along, With the strenght to carry on, And you cast y

   

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  Christian's Voice

  What do you want the Channel Four I-Team to investigate? Tell us about it.
  Call (615) 353-2474 Your E-mail:Phone Number (optional):
  Subject:Kimberly Harris (name in Warren County Jail is Coffey) placed in jail for what OTHERS are posting on Facebook.

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  Christian's Voice

  Rosa Parks went to jail! Kimberly is a HERO, and now an even bigger hero to her son Christian Coffey. The love of a mother.

 

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  Christian's Voice

  Kimberly Harris mother of Christian Coffey is in jail because she has online supporters. Read the judicial complaint Kimberly made in her case trying to protect her son from further abuse. And now she is being abused. Kimberly Harris is a hero!

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• Liz Duke SO SORRY KIMBERLY, I PRAY THAT YOUR STRENGTH OVERCOMES THEIR EVILNESS biggggggggggggggggggggggggHUGGGGG

Christian's Voice

Please LIKE and SHARE this public page in support of Kimberly Harris who is now in jail.

Free Kimberly Harris Mother of Christian Coffey Now

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5 hours ago · Unlike · · Share

• You and Lj Thomas like this.

Christian's Voice

Please LIKE and SHARE this public page in support of Kimberly Harris who is now in jail.

Free Kimberly Harris Mother of Christian Coffey Now

Page: ‎53 people like this.

16 hours ago · Like · · Share

• Tiffini Flynn Forslund and 2 others like this.

Christian's VoiceAmerican Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU of KY)

Please help, why is Kimberly Harris in jail because people are supporting her on the internet? She is in the Warren County Regional Jail in Bowling Green Kentucky. Her Civil Rights have been violated. And on what charges? Please message us.

American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU of KY)

18 hours ago · Like · · Share

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    Christian's Voice

    Christian Coffey is being held in Bowling Green foster care. He is begging to go BACK home to his mother where he had been after he was beaten by his father Steven Hardin Coffey. Steve Coffey was charged with 4th degree assault and child ab...See More

    17 hours ago · Like

Christian's Voice

Please post on he ACLU of Kentucky's FB page, call them as well about this case. Thank you.

American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU of KY)

Nonpartisan organization providing legal aid, community education and advocacy on a variety of social issues affecting the most vulnerable populations.

Page: ‎1,064 people like this.

18 hours ago · Like · · Share

• Van Mark Smith likes this.

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    Christian's Voice Tyler agreed.

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RECENT ACTIVITY

• "Please help an innocent mother..." on American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU of KY)'s Wall.

• "Christian Coffey is being held..." on his own photo.

• Christian's posted a photo to American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (ACLU of KY)'s Wall.

Christian's Voice

Send them the info on this case in their news tips section. Thank you.

News Tips | Kentucky.com

www.kentucky.com

News Tips

20 hours ago · Like · · Share

Christian's Voice

Scroll down to the NEWS section and you will find an email listing of reporters. Please send them an email about this case. Thank you.

Personnel Directory | Kentucky.com

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Personnel Directory

20 hours ago · Like · · Share

Christian's Voice

Ken and Kimberly Harris speak out in this video, about their son Christian Coffey. Please share.

Corrupt Judge Catherine Rice Holderfild "Stop the Abuse of Christian Coffey" Bowling Green, Kentucky

www.youtube.com

Elaine Barnes Bateman Interview with Christian's Mom and step dad. Bowling Green Kentucky PETITION For Christian http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/protect-christian-against-more-abuse Corrupt Judge Catherine Rice Holderfield won't help abused child!http://www.topix.com/forum/city/bowling-green-ky

20 hours ago · Like · · Share

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    Christian's Voice Kimberly says " He (Christian) can't fight for himself, so I'm going to fight for him." She sure is fighting for him, she is in jail for her son. Kimberly Harris is a hero!

    20 hours ago · Like · 2 people

Christian's Voice

Read the Judicial Complaint Kimberly Harris made against the judge who just put her in jail.

Stop the Abuse of Christian Coffey: Judicial Complaint Against Judge Catherine Rice Holderfield in W

stoptheabuseofchristiancoffey.blogspot.com

20 hours ago · Like · · Share

Christian's Voice

Please contact the media in this case. The list is in the comment below. Thank you.

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    Christian's Voice

    WBKO Main NumbersPhone: 270.781.1313
    After Hours News Hotline: 270.781.6397
    WSMV ch 4 Nashville Tenn at 615-353-2231 or 615-353-4444- Kimberly is from Springfield Tenn, call this station over and over.

 

Christian Coffey Hey Judge-- I Claudine Dombrowski am responsible for everything on the www about you! THE TRUTH can NEVER be Silenced.

The Hands That Tie: KENTUCKY JUDGE CATHERINE RICE-HOLDERFIELD COURT WHORE « Battered Mothers-A Human

Why would a family court judge place a child in the foster care system when he has a Mother more than willing to take care of her son?

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• Christian's Voice

  Posts from Topix: Concerning judge Catherine Rice Holderfield
  May 18, 2010
  I was wanting input from any parties who have appeared before this air head. Do you realize that these judges are not even voted in? In any case I have never seen a less prepared judge, and I have seen many. I was not in court for any reason other than to observe. This is the second time I have witnessed this judge, not have paperwork in front of her, not review papers, and also side with in some cases criminals who are STILL in jail, unreal. I am filing a complaint against this judge. The process is not hard and I believe if enough people file complaints against these "laid back" draw my pay check judges, we may get a few of them "retired" We can't vote them out like some of the politicians, so we have to file complaints with the judicuary board. If you have had dealings with this judge or any judge in bowling green who you feel acted as if they didnt care, or was rushed or too busy to really look at your case, or just didnt seem to be using sound legal judgment and common sense I urge you to file complaints. It is the only tool citizens in the "commonwealth" have, Here is a link to get a form
  http://courts.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5411B29D-C0...
  Fill it out and send it off. It is time some of these worthless public servants got there walking papers!

• 
  May 18, 2010
  I agree. I have been to our justice center and it seems the judges half listen to whats going on. It is really just a big money pit for the lawyers, and their cronies, which is of course other lawyers. All a judge is is a use to be lawyer. Do you really think a person has a chance in the court system? It is really corrupt here because of it being such a small community.
  Only way you will be dealt with fair here is have a relative with some pull, or a lot of cash., otherwise step up and take it like they want to give it to you. I have seen posts on here before. The sherrifs dept, d.a. office, they are all in together. Get real!

• Friday at 1:59pm · Like · 1 person

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  Lorraine Tipton They cannot harness the wind!

  Friday at 6:03pm · Like · 2 people

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  Christian's Voice

  KIMBERLY HARRIS MOTHER OF CHRISTIAN COFFEY IS IN JAIL!
  COFFEY-HARRIS , KIMBERLY KAY
  Age: 45 Class: COUNTY INMATE
  Race/Sex: W/F
  Intake Date: 3/4/2011
  ...See More

  Friday at 6:07pm · Like

• Christian's Voice Call WSMV ch 4 Nashville Tenn at 615-353-2231 or 615-353-4444
  FBhttp://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/WSMV-TV-Channel-4-Nashville/94568081714 PLEASE CALL NOW!

  Friday at 6:38pm · Like

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  Gail Lakritz There is a "commission" of Family Court Judges that is based in Williamsburg, VA where my case was. It seems to me that the proceedings, including all individual meetings and social get togethers of these judges should have certified non-biased court reporters to take down every word that is said. Tactics are passed on at these things, and we,the voters should be allowed to hear what is being said.

  Friday at 7:54pm · Like · 2 people

 

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  Claudine Dombrowski

  ‎Christian Coffey

  

  STEVEN HARDIN COFFEY- WARREN COUNTY, JAIL, KENTUCKY —STOP THE ABUSE OF CHRISTIAN COFFEY— JUDGE CATHE

  justiceformothers.blog.com

  ‎"Stop the Abuse of Christian Coffey" Kimberly Harris mother of Chrisitan Coffey is going to jail tomorrow in Bowling Green ,KY. Why? Because her story