November 18, 2024
In August of 2019 the Levy County Sheriff’s Office responded to a citizen’s report of finding a deceased person along the side of the road in Morriston. Deputies and Detectives responded to the scene to begin collecting evidence and start their investigation. Detectives determined the subject had been murdered in a different location and his remains were dumped into the ditch in Levy County. Positive identification of the deceased male was not initially learned.
The investigation gained traction when a burned vehicle was discovered in Ocala. LCSO joined forces with Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Gainesville Field Office which led to a suspect list being developed. The cooperative efforts of these investigating agencies led to four arrests in connection with this murder some months after the investigation was launched. The victim, identified as Jafet Padin Rodriguez, a 33 year old resident of Ocala, was murdered by Omar Rodriquez-Ortiz 10/5/81, Christian Cardona-Cirilo 8/6/92, Kesia Mundo 3/28/83 and Jesse Torres 5/6/88 because of a mistaken identity. All four defendants were held in the Levy County Detention Center awaiting trial.
Assistant State Attorney’s Glenn Bryan and Daniel Owen of the 8th Judicial State Attorney’s Office worked for years preparing this case for trial. Defendants Kesia Mundo and Jesse Torres accepted State negotiated plea offers. Mundo received 15 years and was charged with conspiracy to commit 1st Degree Murder and Torres received 20 years and was charged with conspiracy to commit 1st Degree Murder.
Defendants Omar Rodriquez-Ortiz and Christian Cardona-Cirilo rejected all offers and chose to take their case to trial. The trial that began in October 2024 and lasted two weeks, saw evidence presented to the jury by ASA Bryan and ASA Owen that proved beyond a reasonable doubt both were guilty.
Sentencing for both defendants was held on 11/7/2024 in front of 8th Judicial Circuit Court Judge William Davis. Rodriquez-Ortiz was sentenced to LIFE for 1st Degree Murder followed by a consecutive 30 years for Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder. Cardona-Cirilo received a 30 year sentence for 2nd Degree Murder.
Sheriff McCallum commented that the work performed by these Detectives and the skillful presentation of the evidence by Assistant State Attorney’s Glenn Bryan and Daniel Owen led to these four predators being removed from our communities. Detectives began their investigation with the unidentified remains of a Hispanic male who was thrown into a ditch. They worked diligently to identify the suspect(s) and take them into custody. Our attorney’s worked tirelessly assembling the case to present to this jury who unanimously voted for the conviction. The efforts of my Detectives and our Assistant State Attorney’s hopefully will bring a sense of justice and peace to the family of the victim in this case.