A strangled victim’s plea for help to fix the Pima County criminal justice system.
Her family is angry calling it a rubber stamp process that’s putting lives in grave danger.
And now we’re hearing from a former chief prosecutor in the county attorney’s office, who explains how the system is failing to protect victims.
Gracie McDonough’s says boyfriend of 4 years, Angel Carmona Rodriquez, is accused of strangling her, a felony.
He confessed to the crime yet he’s released soon after his arrest.
McDonough believes he needs to stay in jail because he’s extremely violent.
Again, we are not here to determine Rodriquez’s guilt or innocence that’s up to a jury in a courtroom if it gets that far.
But rather we’re examining what the family and leaders say is a breakdown in the system that’s putting lives in danger.
A death threat captured in an audio recording.
He had said, “You are going to die today.”
Mounting evidence of violence includes flashes of temper, pictures of Gracie bloodied and bruised throughout their relationship, and a confession that he strangled her.
And when asked by a detective if McDonough was lying, Rodriguez responded, “No. She wouldn’t be lying.”