Trial for man accused of killing Des Moines mother and 2 children begins
Share
Updated: 12:16 PM CDT Apr 13, 2021
Trial for man accused of killing Des Moines mother and 2 children begins
Share
Updated: 12:16 PM CDT Apr 13, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript
FOR MONDAY. THE TRIAL FOR A POLK COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING A MOTHER AND HER TWO CHILDREN IS UNDERWAY TODAY. MARVIN ESQUIVEL LOPEZ, ALSO KNOWN AS MARVIN ESCOBAR ORELLANA , IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING ROSSIBETH FLORES RODRIG
TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE
Share
Updated: 12:16 PM CDT Apr 13, 2021
The trial for a man charged with shooting a mother and her two children to death in Polk County is underway.Marvin Esquivel-Lopez, also known as Marvin Escobar Orellana, is charged with shooting and killing Rossibeth Flores-Rodriguez, her 11-year-old daughter and her five-year-old son in their home in July of 2019.According to police, the mother and her two children were found dead in a Des Moines home after each being shot in the head twice.Police said Flores-Rodriguez and her two children were living in Esquivel-Lopez's basement after immigrating to the United States and there was no domestic relationship.Family and friends of the victims said that Flores-Rodriguez had previously said she wanted to move out of Esquivel-Lopez's home because she didn't feel safe.In December 2019, a judge approved the deposition from Esquivel-Lopez's 8-year-old son, who was an eye witness to the crime, according to the court. The judge decided to allow the son's information into the record for only those involved with the case.The judge signed a protective order for the 8-year-old's medical records to be sealed after a medical professional wrote to the court. The note stated that Esquivel-Lopez's son "suffered an 'immense traumatic event' when he witnessed the killings," according to court documents.Court documents state Esquivel-Lopez's wife told police that while he was the one who called 911 after the shooting, there was a gap of time between the homicide and when Esquivel-Lopez contacted police.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Esquivel-Lopez has been deported twice from the U.S. He has also used the name Marvin Escobar-Orellana.Esquivel-Lopez is being held on a $3 million bail at the Polk County Jail.