Florida Man Pleads Guilty in Gruesome Workplace Murders Using Office Supplies
Dec 21, 2023, 02:00 AM
Jose Rojas, 55, has pleaded guilty to the brutal killings of his colleagues, Frances Venezia and Robert James, more than 11 years after the gruesome incident. The deadly attack occurred on April 27, 2012, at the offices of Professional Public Adjusters in Florida.
Rojas said in a three-page letter to the judge that he would like to receive the death penalty for his actions, a fate that the jury will now deliberate next month as the trial moves to the penalty phase. In the letter, Rojas said, "I’m tired,
really tired and I want to end this for all of us as fast and easy as I can.
From what I understand, your honor has the power over my life and your honor is
the most intelligent person in this room. So, I’m asking you if I change my
plea ... what I really, really want can your honor make the order for the state
to kill me quickly?"
Rojas, who had allegedly been embezzling from the company since
December 2011, reportedly overheard Venezia discussing unauthorized charges on
a company credit card two days before the murders. Prosecutors claim that this
triggered Rojas to plan the violent workplace assault meticulously.
Rojas eventually admitted to the murders, revealing to the
police that he lurked in the office wearing a dark hood. Upon the arrival of
Venezia and James for work that morning, he shot them both with a pellet gun,
as detailed in the arrest affidavit.
According to his confession, he proceeded to restrain them in
their office chairs using duct tape, all the while pressuring Venezia to
authorize a significant withdrawal from her checking account. As Venezia began
to scream, Rojas resorted to using a mop to silence her. Subsequently, James
started screaming, too, and Rojas claimed that the next thing he knew, he was
covered in blood.
Prosecutors assert that Rojas conveniently forgot brutally beating Venezia and James to death with a hole puncher, letter opener, and the blade from a paper cutter.
During their opening statement, prosecutors presented the bloody
hole puncher and duct tape as evidence to the jury. Rojas' attorney countered
in his opening statement, citing his client's acute depression stemming from
childhood trauma and brain injuries incurred during years of playing soccer.
Venezia attempted to contact her daughter in New York, while
James reached out to his life partner in Italy, begging for help.
Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, as Rojas allegedly continued the
relentless assault until their deaths.
Rojas, covered in blood, was confronted by police outside the
building and attempted to flee. After a chase, he was apprehended in an alley
next to a supermarket. Following 17 hours of police interviews, Rojas
reportedly confessed to the heinous crimes.
Charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of
armed kidnapping, and attempted robbery, Rojas had been held without bond since
April 28, 2012. His trial began on Wednesday and took an unexpected turn when
he entered a guilty plea on Friday. Initially considering an insanity defense,
Rojas' defense lawyer referred to his client as being in a "psychotic
state" at the time of the killings.
The next hearing for Jose Rojas is scheduled for December 12.
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Rojas said in a three-page letter to the judge that he would like to receive the death penalty for his actions, a fate that the jury will now deliberate next month as the trial moves to the penalty phase. In the letter, Rojas said, "I’m tired,
really tired and I want to end this for all of us as fast and easy as I can.
From what I understand, your honor has the power over my life and your honor is
the most intelligent person in this room. So, I’m asking you if I change my
plea ... what I really, really want can your honor make the order for the state
to kill me quickly?"
Rojas, who had allegedly been embezzling from the company since
December 2011, reportedly overheard Venezia discussing unauthorized charges on
a company credit card two days before the murders. Prosecutors claim that this
triggered Rojas to plan the violent workplace assault meticulously.
Rojas eventually admitted to the murders, revealing to the
police that he lurked in the office wearing a dark hood. Upon the arrival of
Venezia and James for work that morning, he shot them both with a pellet gun,
as detailed in the arrest affidavit.
According to his confession, he proceeded to restrain them in
their office chairs using duct tape, all the while pressuring Venezia to
authorize a significant withdrawal from her checking account. As Venezia began
to scream, Rojas resorted to using a mop to silence her. Subsequently, James
started screaming, too, and Rojas claimed that the next thing he knew, he was
covered in blood.
Prosecutors assert that Rojas conveniently forgot brutally beating Venezia and James to death with a hole puncher, letter opener, and the blade from a paper cutter.
During their opening statement, prosecutors presented the bloody
hole puncher and duct tape as evidence to the jury. Rojas' attorney countered
in his opening statement, citing his client's acute depression stemming from
childhood trauma and brain injuries incurred during years of playing soccer.
Venezia attempted to contact her daughter in New York, while
James reached out to his life partner in Italy, begging for help.
Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, as Rojas allegedly continued the
relentless assault until their deaths.
Rojas, covered in blood, was confronted by police outside the
building and attempted to flee. After a chase, he was apprehended in an alley
next to a supermarket. Following 17 hours of police interviews, Rojas
reportedly confessed to the heinous crimes.
Charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of
armed kidnapping, and attempted robbery, Rojas had been held without bond since
April 28, 2012. His trial began on Wednesday and took an unexpected turn when
he entered a guilty plea on Friday. Initially considering an insanity defense,
Rojas' defense lawyer referred to his client as being in a "psychotic
state" at the time of the killings.
The next hearing for Jose Rojas is scheduled for December 12.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com