Traci Rhode fined, set free for murder
Michael Snyder
and yet still gives her effectively a suspended sentence
for premeditated murder!
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/rhode-82641-convicted-days.html
Jury convicts, sentences widow to 10 years probation
December 06, 2007 11:40 PM
By JOSÉ BORJÓN/The Brownsville Herald
Traci Rhode spent two days in jail and will pay $10,000 for the crime
of murder.
The jury that convicted the Fort Madison, Iowa, native of killing her
husband in their Brownsville home four years ago also set her free
Thursday, to the delight of her lawyer and the dismay of local
prosecutors.
“I am ecstatic with the jury’s assessment of probation,” said her
lawyer, Ernesto Gamez.
“It literally legitimizes and justifies their verdict because deep
down inside they had a very tough decision to make.”
It took jurors two days to deliver their guilty verdict and another
three days to sentence Rhode to 10 years supervised release. Judge Ben
Euresti tacked on a $10,000 fine to her punishment and she was
released from the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center within a few
hours.
“(They waited) for two days before they came out with their guilty
verdict because they were not sure,” Gamez suspects and called his
client’s detention during deliberation “cruel and unusual.”
“Can you imagine the shock of being locked-up for two days in a 4-by-8
(foot cell) with cement walls in isolation? What a culture shock,” he
said.
District Attorney Armando Villalobos was experiencing a different kind
of shock Thursday after it was announced that the convicted killer
would walk.
“We are obviously disappointed by the fact that a convicted murderer
will be among us,” said Villalobos, whose office recommended 60 years
in prison for Rhode.
Villalobos pointed out that people convicted of “lesser” crimes, such
as theft or robbery, often serve harsher sentences.
Upon her release, Rhode embraced her children and supporters that
waited outside the jail fence.
She has maintained her innocence throughout the trial, claiming Scott
Rhode shot himself in their bedroom while she showered after a morning
walk.
The prosecutors counter that Traci awoke at about 5 a.m. on Oct. 15,
2003, and shot her husband with a .45-caliber handgun while he slept.
She went jogging around their Briarwick Subdivision neighborhood then
took a bath before calling police to report the shooting, they argued.
Scott survived the gunshot wound to the head but died the next day at
Valley Regional Medical Center.
“This was a flat out cold-blooded execution,” Villalobos said.
“Really, our goal here was to get over the hurdle of showing the jury
that this murder occurred without really any eyewitnesses present,” he
said.
“Whenever you are faced with that kind of situation you exhaust a lot
of resources and energy to show that the murder occurred.”
Prosecutors alleged that Traci killed so that she could collect her
husband’s life insurance policy and continue an affair with a co-
worker.
She is the beneficiary of a $600,000 life and accidental death policy
for Scott. It was not clear Thursday who would receive those benefits
now that she’s been convicted in his death.
“That’s a civil issue that I’m not involved with,” Gamez said. “The
monies will probably go to the children, and rightfully so.”
Scott and Traci Rhode had three children. Two boys pleaded with jurors
for leniency after their mother’s conviction.
Her sentence might not be available for the next convicted killer.
A new law passed by the Texas Legislature and effective since Sept. 1
prohibits murderers from receiving community supervised release. The
law only applies to cases that take place after the effective date.
“Probation is just disappointing,” Villalobos said of the case his
office won and in a way, lost. “But we have to move on.”
Mick
> Jury rejects wife's claim that dead husband shot himself --
> and yet still gives her effectively a suspended sentence
> for premeditated murder!
>
> http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/rhode-82641-convicted-days.html
>
> Jury convicts, sentences widow to 10 years probation
> December 06, 2007 11:40 PM
> By JOSÉ BORJÓN/The Brownsville Herald
This is another old-assed anger story. Why bother to post it if you
don't follow up?
These posts are getting nonsensical..
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/rhode-96142-jail-traci.html
Convicted murderer Traci Rhode will spend six months in a Cameron
County jail following her official sentencing Monday for killing her
husband.
In 2007, a jury in the 107th District Court found Rhode guilty of the
October 2003 killing of her husband. She has maintained her innocence,
claiming that he shot himself while she was bathing.
Rhode had initially been given a 10-year probated sentenced, but
because she had appealed her murder conviction she had not been
formally sentenced. Rhode withdrew her appeal earlier this month.
At Monday's sentencing hearing, the Cameron County District Attorney's
office argued that Rhode should be given some type of jail time for
murdering her husband, Scott Rhode, District Attorney Armando
Villalobos said.
"We argued for jail time because of the type of offense" Rhode was
convicted of, Villalobos said.
Judge Benjamin Euresti Jr., agreed and sentenced Rhode to 180 days in
the county jail as part of her 10-year probated sentenced. She also
received a $10,000 fine.
Authorities said Traci, 37, shot her husband with a .45-caliber
handgun on Oct. 15, 2003 at the couple's home.
Scott, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head, died Oct. 16, 2003,
while hospitalized at Valley Regional Medical Center, where Traci
worked as a nurse.
Her defense team claimed that Scott attempted to commit suicide early
that morning while Traci took a shower.
Prosecutors claim she killed him to cash in on his $100,000 life
insurance policy.
The District Attorney's office had asked the jury to deliver a 60-year
sentence for the murder conviction.
Villalobos said although Rhode received a probated sentence, Euresti
can modify the conditions at any time while she is on probation.
"This case has been a sore spot for us," Villalobos said. "We are
going to monitor her case (closer) more than other cases," adding that
Rhode violates any condition of her probation she will be sent to jail
where she will finish the remainder of her sentence.
Rhode was booked into the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito
on Monday.
Rhode filed her appeal in January last year. It hit a snag in April
when Euresti rejected her request for a transcript of her trial.
Her attorney, Larry Warner argued that Rhode could not pay the $25,000
required fee. Had Euresti approved her request, the cost would have
been borne by taxpayers.
Rhode's nursing license was suspended on Jan. 23; she had been a
licensed registered nurse since June 2003 and had been employed as a
nurse in Harlingen.