Rock Valley, Iowa — A Rock Valley man who fled to Utah after allegedly stabbing his grandfather to death, then setting fire to the home they shared in Rock Valley, has been returned to Sioux County.
Shortly before 2:30 am on Sunday, October 29th, Rock Valley firefighters were called to the report of a house fire at 1416 15th Street in Rock Valley. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a portion of the house was fully engulfed by fire, and were told there was someone inside the dwelling. Firefighters gained entry into the residence, extinguished the fire, and discovered the body of 84-year old Luis Luevanos inside the residence.
Luevanos death sparked an investigation which led to the discovery that he had been stabbed to death prior to the fire being intentionally set.
The victim’s grandson, Santos Rodriguez, Jr. had lived in his grandfather’s home prior to the fire. The investigation revealed that Rodriguez, Jr. had traveled to Utah after the fire.
Agents from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation travelled to Utah and interviewed Rodriguez, Jr. Officials say he admitted to stabbing his grandfather and intentionally setting the fire afterward.
Rodriguez, Jr. was arrested, and returned to Iowa, where he was placed in the Sioux County Jail on Tuesday of this week, charged with: 1st Degree Premeditated Murder, a Class A Felony; 1st Degree Arson, a Class B Felony; as well as Failure To Appear.
As of late morning Wednesday, Rodriguez Jr. remained locked up in the Sioux County Jail at Orange City.
