On Wednesday more evidence was brought forward by prosecutors in the Capital Murder Trial of Luis Aguirre. Aguirre is charged with the murders of his ex-girlfriend 18-year -old Tanya Maldonado, and their 13-month-old son Juan in September of 2009.
On Wednesday prosecutors called Riley County police detective Ryan Runyan to the stand as the jurors were shown a video of the November 3, 2009 interrogation of Aguirre after he was extradited from Texas. During the interview Aguirre told investigators the deaths of Tanya Maldonado, and Juan, were unfortunate accidents starting with an argument and a slip in the kitchen.
The initial portion of the interrogation started with a detailed description by Aguirre of the trip from Chicago to Ogden after he picked Tanya Maldonado and her son up from the Olive Branch Mission homeless shelter in Chicago after a national guard drill weekend. Aguirre told investigators he was helping Tanya get away from strained family relations, and help her start a new life.
Aguirre went on to say sometime on the night of the September 21, 2009 he slipped in the kitchen, and mistakenly grabbed Maldonado from behind. Aguirre says Maldonado thought he was attacking her, and as he tried to calm her down she accidentally died in the struggle. Aguirre then told the investigators in the interrogation video that Juan passed away after being swaddled and laid down to sleep on a bed in the Ogden home.
Further testimony in the video gave more details about how Aguirre disposed of the bodies. Aguirre told detectives it was more “like a kid trying to hide what he’s done” rather than a premeditated cold hearted action. In the video Aguirre told detectives his truck was momentarily stuck in a ditch after he disposed of the bodies.
Prosecutors brought forward an expert forensic analyst on Wednesday afternoon. Shawnee County Forensic Pathologist Erik Mitchell told the jury injuries on the bodies were brought about by blunt force trauma, and the injuries indicated their deaths were not accidental. Jurors were shown several photographs from the autopsy of Tanya and Juan Maldonado.
In cross examination by the defense Dr. Mitchell was asked if his view of the evidence was taken in full context of all the information, and if in fact Dr. Mitchell wasn’t given the full medical background by the state. Dr. Mitchell stated he hadn’t received all of the medical records by the state, but none of the proposals by the defense made a difference in the injuries he indicated were the cause of death in his final autopsy.
Next on the stand was Olive Branch case manager Carolyn Taylor. Taylor at times tearfully testified on her interactions with Tanya Maldonado that began on September 3, 2009 and ended when Tanya Maldonado left the shelter with Aguirre. Taylor gave background on the shelter itself, and says Maldonado planned to start a new life in Texas with Juan’s father. Taylor also stated she assisted Maldonado with starting to get state assistance, and child support.
Former Olive Branch security manager Diane Williams testified on the last night of Tanya Maldonado at the shelter. Williams says she was uneasy with Tanya leaving that night and attempted to get her to stay until the morning.
The final portion of Wednesday’s trial included emails between Aguirre and Maldonado regarding their relationship in 2009, and read aloud to the jury by Riley County Detective Erin Freidline. The emails contained references to their past relationships, and many revolved around Tanya Maldonado’s baby Juan.
The Capital murder trial of Aguirre is scheduled to continue on Thursday as prosecutors continue with the reading of the email correspondence between Aguirre and Tonya Maldonado.
