A Winder man is facing charges of murder and aggravated assault after a Jan. 8 altercation left another man dead.
After an exhaustive crime scene search and initial investigation, Barrow County Sheriff’s deputies secured a warrant for aggravated assault against Saul Rodriguez, age 30.
Winder Police took Rodriguez into custody late Friday on the aggravated assault charge. Sheriff’s Office investigators subsequently interviewed Rodriguez and obtained an additional warrant for murder.
The investigation began in the early morning hours of Jan. 8 when deputies were called to 78 Midland Court in Winder after receiving a request for medical assistance.
Upon arrival, deputies located a deceased Hispanic male. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab later confirmed that the man had died as a result of being stabbed.
The victim, identified as Luis Enrique Gonzalez-Pina,age 20, is a native of Mexico. Investigators are currently examining his residency status in the United States.
Investigators spent over seventeen hours processing the scene and interviewing witnesses. Rodriguez, Gonzalez-Pina and at least three other men were present at the time of the incident. According to Barrow County Sheriff’s Office investigator Matt Guthas, the five Hispanic men lived together in the home.
The motive for the stabbing remains unknown, but alcohol is believed to be a factor.
The last homicide confirmed and investigated by the Barrow County Sheriff's Office was discovered on Nov. 16, 2008 in the woods behind 998 Atlanta Highway in Winder. That case remains under investigation. Prior to that, a June 5, 2008 homicide ended with the arrest and conviction of Rodney Thompson on murder charges.
Former MC Resident
01/11/10 at 03:22 AM
First off, why have they only secured an "aggravated assault" warrant when a man is dead? Why the hold up on the murder warrant? Also, reading the article in the ABH, it stated they had to get interpertors(sp) to understand what anyones statements were the night this happened, so did they check to see if anyone was here illegaly?