A man accused of a murder and two armed robberies will remain in jail until his trial. Manuel Rodriquez, 34, of Longs, stood before Circuit Court Judge Steven John Wednesday seeking bond. He was arrested in mid-November for the October stabbing death of 33-year-old Ernesto Simon-DeLeon of South Fraser Street.
Originally investigators charged 22-year-old Antonio M. Borja with the murder but after new evidence turned up, charges against him were dropped.
Christy Joane Smith, 34, of 134 Missroon St., Georgetown, has also been charged with murder, two counts of burglary 1st and two counts of armed robbery.
Rodriquez allegedly went to Simon-DeLeon’s mobile home and knocked on the door and said he was a police officer. After the door was opened, police reports say, Rodriquez went inside and stabbed Simon-DeLeon to death. Police say robbery was the motive.
He is also accused of two robberies in Andrews that occurred within two days of the murder.
Judge John denied bond for Rodriquez but set Smith’s bond at $100,000.
