Monroe man seeks new murder trial after juror accused of stabbings

A defendant convicted in the 2019 killing of a man in Monroe and the stabbing of two others wants a new trial after one of the jurors was arrested for allegedly stabbing a mother and daughter just three days after handing down the verdict.

On April 10, jurors in Kevin Rodriguez's trial rendered the 35-year-old Monroe man guilty of the second-degree murder of Evodio Garcia Martinez and the second-degree assaults of two other men, all of whom were stabbed with butcher knives, according to The Daily Herald in Everett.

Three days later, a 20-year-old man broke into a family's home near Everett, allegedly stabbing a 45-year-old woman and her 18-year-old daughter before another family member restrained him in a chokehold.

According to a motion filed by Rodriguez's defense last week, that 20-year-old man was "juror 14" in Rodriguez's recent trial. The defense is now seeking a new trial, citing reasons of "juror misconduct" in addition to numerous objections to elements of the trial and legal proceedings.

The 20-year-old reportedly has schizophrenia and said he was "sent by Jesus," the motion said. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary and two counts of first-degree assault.

The Herald first reported on Rodriguez's motion.

Evodio Garcia Martinez was asleep on the couch in a Monroe apartment the night he was stabbed to death in 2019, according to court documents.

When a group of Garcia Martinez's roommates returned from a night at a casino, one went into his own room and reportedly found Rodriguez standing in the dark with two knives. Rodriguez allegedly slashed at the man.

The roommates eventually subdued Rodriguez after a struggle and tied his wrists with copper wire, according to court documents. During the fight, the roommates said Garcia Martinez never moved.

In 2021, a jury found Rodriguez wasn't guilty of first-degree murder and instead convicted him of first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

But after Rodriguez's case was appealed, the appeals court reversed the first-degree manslaughter conviction, citing an error of the court, so he was retried, leading to this month's conviction of second-degree murder and assault.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.