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Former Boyfriend Sought In Tampa Woman's Slaying

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 19, 2008

TAMPA - Hours after Iris Hernandez-Morales failed to show up to testify in a court case against her ex-boyfriend, her family called police.

Her mother grew concerned after being unable to reach her, and an attempt by her family to get into the home late Tuesday had failed.

About midnight, an officer broke a window to get inside and found Hernandez-Morales' body in the Tampa home.

Now, police want to speak to the ex-boyfriend.

"This woman was frazzled by this man," police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said, citing examples of Jose Torres-Rodriguez riding by the woman's house after she had filed an injunction against him.

"She was literally in fear of her life," McElroy said.

Officers have not released details on how Hernandez-Morales, 35, was killed in her home at 2509 W. Walnut St.

Torres-Rodriguez, 55, whose last known address was 3105 Armenia Ave., had just gotten out of jail. Police were searching for him Wednesday but had not named him a suspect.

He was arrested July 8 on a domestic battery charge of slapping and choking Hernandez-Morales, and an injunction was put in place that month. The injunction was to expire in July.

On May 22, Torres-Rodriguez was arrested again - this time for violating the injunction by entering her backyard.

At a hearing June 9, Hernandez-Morales testified that at times she was in fear for her life because of him and that at times she let him back into her life.

She never showed up for a scheduled court appearance Tuesday.

"Tampa Police have responded to the victim's home and her ex-boyfriend's home 5 times since July 2007 for domestic violence," a police news release states.

Georgia Robinson, a neighbor, said she saw the couple together often and never saw them argue. She said she had no idea Hernandez-Morales told police the man abused her.

"They were happy," Robinson said. "They would order pizzas and do stuff as a couple."

While Hernandez-Morales' family members moved her possessions out of the rental home Wednesday morning, McElroy stood across the street and told reporters that officers were on the lookout for Torres-Rodriguez.

They said he may be driving a 2002 beige Dodge pickup with Florida license plate number V478JV, and blue painter's tape around the back window. Investigators thought he was still in the Tampa area, McElroy said.

Hernandez-Morales had two children, an 11-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, McElroy said.

The children, Yaidiz Rodriguez-Perez and Louis Rodriguez-Perez, were staying with their grandmother and were not home when their mother was killed. The children will continue to stay with family.

Robinson said her children have played with Hernandez-Morales' children and that they liked the woman.

"She was a nice person. She was quiet, kept to herself," Robinson said.

Outside her sister's house Wednesday morning, Yesenia Fuentes said Hernandez-Morales was a good mother who worked hard for her children.

"If she was murdered ... I want there to be justice," Fuentes said. "I want justice."

Anyone with information regarding Torres-Rodriguez or Hernandez-Morales' slaying is asked to call (813) 231-6130.

News Channel 8 reporter Katie Coronado contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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