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Woman Called 911 Hours Before She Was Killed

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2008

Jose Torres-Rodriguez

TAMPA - Iris Hernandez-Morales called 911 at 8 p.m. Monday to report that her on-again, off-again boyfriend was trying to find and intimidate her about her appearing in court against him, Tampa police say.

Six to seven hours later, witnesses heard her screaming from inside her Walnut Street home and saw the boyfriend leaving and driving off in his 2002 Dodge pickup, according to a criminal arrest affidavit.
Hernandez-Morales failed to show up Tuesday to testify against the boyfriend, Jose Torres-Rodriguez. Concerned, her family called police, and an officer found Hernandez-Morales' body inside her house.

Torres-Rodriguez, 55, was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree murder.

Investigators said Torres-Rodriguez entered the Walnut Street home and strangled Hernandez-Morales.

Torres-Rodriguez was arrested July 8 on a domestic battery charge of slapping and choking Hernandez-Morales, and a domestic violence injunction was put in place that month. He was arrested in May for violating the injunction.

At a hearing June 9, Hernandez-Morales testified that she feared for her life.

Torres-Rodriguez remained without bail today in Orient Road Jail.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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