By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-16 18:11:46 | Updated at 2025-03-17 05:31:47
11 hours ago
A Colorado woman sentenced to life in prison for stabbing a man and lighting his house on fire was seen smiling and giggling throughout her two-week long trial.
Stacy Rodriguez, 23, appeared unbothered - and even amused - as she stood trial for the October 2021 death of Chris Dickerson, 35.
She and her friend Hosanna Varela, 19 and 23 at the time, went back to Dickerson's Greeley home after meeting him at a bar during a night out.
Rodriquez savagely attacked Dickerson during what was supposed to be a 'casual gathering,' according to a press release from the Weld County District Attorney's Office.
The convicted murder reportedly stabbed him in the neck multiple times until he died before setting the residence ablaze. Both women were arrested in November 2021.
On Wednesday, the Weld County jury found Rodriquez guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree arson, tampering with a deceased human body and two counts of second-degree burglary.
Varela pleaded guilty to first-degree arson, tampering with a deceased human body and accessory to a crime in January 2024. She is serving a 32-year prison sentence.
Rodriquez 'will spend the rest of her natural life behind bars' without the possibility of parole, the press release reads.
Stacy Rodriguez, 23, was seen giggling and smiling as the jury deliberated on Wednesday
Chris Dickerson, 35, was stabbed to death before his home was set on fire in October 2021
'This entire process has been a joke to this defendant,' Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Pirraglia wrote in the release.
'She jokes. She laughs. The jury got to see her true character, which is nothing but diabolical and despicable. She is a threat to society and there’s no place for her in it.'
For example, court room footage shows Rodriquez smirking and chuckling as she waited for the jury to deliberate.
While testifying in court, Rodriquez claimed she acted out of self defense - saying Dickerson tried to violently stop them from leaving - and did not call the police out of fear.
She timidly spoke and only shared brief answers as her attorney prompted her to speak through questioning. She appeared flustered and nervous as she detailed her side of the story.
'He pushed me onto the couch,' Rodriguez began. 'He gets on top of me and he's like holding my arms down and he's like still yelling.
'He's like over me with one leg on the floor and then one leg was on me.'
She said in an attempt to get Dickerson off of her, she grabbed a beer bottle but was not able to hit him with it.
Rodriguez and Varela, 19 and 23 at the time, went back to Dickerson's Greeley home after meeting him at a bar during a night out
Rodriquez alleged that Dickerson grabbed a 'shiv' Varela brought over. He had allegedly mentioned this weapon earlier in the night, causing Rodriguez to feel threatened.
The victim's father Allen Dickerson spoke during the sentencing hearing and told his son's side of the story.
'Chris did not deserve to die that day that he befriended those two young women. Chris deserved so much more in his life,' he said.
'I hope this verdict brings some peace. I hope after today you get some closure in this journey,' Pirraglia said.
'This family gave us the strength to keep going the past three years, and today we got justice for Christopher.'
