DOB: 01-06-1949 DOC#: 851769 Hispanic Male
Lake County Superior Court
Judge James E.
Letsinger
Prosecutor: Jack Crawford
Defense: Erik Clark
Date of Murder: October 11, 1984
Victim(s): Francisco Alarcon H/M/82 (Acquaintance of Rondon)
Method of Murder: stabbing with a knife 15 times
Summary: The body of 82 year old Francisco Alarcon was found in the bathroom of his home, stabbed 15 times. A trail of blood was noted from the living room to the bathroom. The evidence showed that Everette Amiotte drove Martinez Chavez and Reynaldo Rondon to a place near Alarcon's home on the night of the murder. As Amiotte stayed in the car, Martinez Chavez and Rondon walked around the corner and returned 20 minutes later. Both men were overheard earlier planning to rob Alarcon. The next day, Rondon gave his girlfriend 2 knives and told her to hide them. A search of Rondon's residence recovered blood-stained money and jewelry.
Conviction: Murder, Felony-Murder
Sentencing: May 10, 1985 Death Sentence (Rondon); Death Sentence (Martinez)
Aggravating Circumstances: b (1) Robbery
Mitigating Circumstances: None
Direct Appeal:
Rondon v. State, 534 N.E.2d 719 (Ind. March 1, 1989)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0 DP Affirmed 3-2
Givan Opinion; Shepard, Pivarnik concur; Debruler, Dickson dissent.
(Joint Trial with Eladio Martinez-Chavez, who also received a Death Sentence after jury recommended against a Death Sentence. Death Sentence was vacated on appeal and Martinez-Chavez was resentenced to 60 years imprisonment on remand.)
Rondon v. Indiana, 110 S. Ct. 418 (1989)
(Cert. denied)
Rondon v. Indiana, 110 S. Ct. 765 (1990)
(Rehearing denied)
PCR:
06-29-90 PCR filed;
Denied by
Special Judge Richard J. Conroy 04-01-95
APPEAL PENDING