A 26 year old Key Largo man is wanted on an outstanding warrant for the attempted murder of his mother’s live-in boyfriend.
Detectives say their investigation revealed Adrian Rodriguez allegedly hit 47 year old Daniel Rivero twice in the head with a glass ashtray as he lay sleeping in bed on the night of May 12th. Rodriguez then allegedly broke two cell phones his step-father might have used to call for help and left the scene, northbound headed for Miami. As he was driving north, he called 911 and reached a Miami-Dade dispatcher, reporting that someone was bleeding from the head at 103100 Overseas Highway in Key Largo. He then hung up before the dispatcher could get more information. Information from the call was relayed to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers, who sent deputies and paramedics to that address.
When they arrived, they found Rivero with a serious head injury. He was taken to Mariner’s Hospital and then airlifted to Kendall Regional Medical Center for treatment.
As detectives investigated at the scene the morning of May 13th, Rodriguez showed up. When investigators interviewed him, he admitted to making the 911 call but told them he’d found the victim on the floor of his bedroom bleeding from the head. He denied hitting the victim. During the course of the investigation, there were many inconsistencies found between the story the suspect told and the evidence found at the scene.
The victim told Detective Bob Dosh Rodriguez and he were the only ones home that night. He said he went to bed and woke up to pain in the back of his head. When he touched his head, he saw blood on his hand. He then tried to get up and fell to the ground, then saw a large amount of blood on the floor by the bed. When he was able to stagger into the kitchen, he found two cell phones – his and his girlfriend’s – broken. He said they were not broken when he left them there the night before.
He managed to make it outside and that is when deputies and paramedics showed up to help him. The victim had a fractured skull, a brain bleed and swelling on the brain. Medical personnel told Detective Dosh the injuries, if untreated, could have been fatal.
The victim told Deputy Dosh he believes Rodriguez hit him and left him to die over $550 rent Rodriguez and his mother owed him.
Rodriguez is wanted for attempted murder. Anyone with information about his location should contact the Sheriff’s Office. Callers may also contact Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. Tipsters can remain anonymous and, if a tip leads to the apprehension of Rodriguez, the caller would be eligible for a cash reward. The Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted on line at www.tipsubmit.com or via a text message to 274637 using the keyword TIP136.