Teen, 16, could be tried as adult in city’s latest murder

Jacob Rodriguez, 16, attends a hearing in Lucas County Juvenile Court on Wednesday after being charged with the murder of Rory Hunter, 23.

The Blade/Dave Zapotosky
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Jacob Rodriguez, 16, attends a hearing in Lucas County Juvenile Court on Wednesday after being charged with the murder of Rory Hunter, 23.

A 16-year-old boy, charged with murder and aggravated robbery, could be tried as an adult.

Jacob Rodriguez, of Oregon, who was arrested by Toledo police Tuesday night, is charged in the death of Rory Hunter, 23, who was found shot to death in an East Toledo field on Jan. 10.

HOMICIDE DATABASE: Toledo-area killings

Lori Olender, a juvenile prosecutor, on Wednesday morning in a detention hearing said that she would file paperwork to certify the Rodriguez youth as an adult.

He is the fourth juvenile this year to have certification papers filed, Ms. Olender said.

At the detention hearing, Judge Robert Jones, Jr., entered “denial” pleas for the teenager, who is on suicide watch.

The boy’s mother, Danalle Williams, was at the hearing. When she sat next to her son, whose hands were cuffed behind his back, the boy leaned into his mother and began to cry.

Ms. Williams said she would retain counsel for her son.

Jacob Rodriguez, left, listens as his mother, Danalle Williams, tell the judge her son is innocent and does not need to remain in custody. The judge ordered the youth be held in detention because of the crime's seriousness.

Judge Jones stated that the Rodriguez youth, acting with Devon Daly, 18, of Plumey Street in Northwood, who was charged last week in the same slaying, approached Hunter to rob him of marijuana and, in the process, Hunter was shot.

An autopsy performed by the Lucas County Coroner’s Office showed that Hunter was shot four times, once in the head and three times in his extremities.

Daly is being held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. Toledo police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said the two teenagers are friends, but did not know how they know one another.

Sgt. Phil Toney said, “It seems like there have been more teenagers [charged with felonies] recently.”

The judge ordered that the Rodriguez youth be held in detention due to the seriousness of the offense.

Ms. Williams told the judge that her son is “not a risk to go anywhere. He’s innocent, he’s not involved.”

Before the boy stood to leave with sheriff’s deputies, his mother hugged him and he said, “You know I didn’t do it, Mom.

“I love you, mom. Tell everyone I love them.”