FL FL - Pilar Rodriguez, 3, Hollywood, 30 Jan 1999 *Guilty*

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Babysitter suspected in child's death arrested in Everett

The babysitter of a 4-year-old girl who vanished more than a decade ago in Florida has reportedly been arrested in Everett, Wash.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports Melissa Harding Jones, 33, was captured thanks to the efforts of a group of retired investigators who took on the case. She's now charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child in the presumed death of Pilar Rodriguez. The girl's body has never been found.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Bab...ilds-death-arrested-in-Everett-101404339.html
 
I heard of the arrest tonight on my local news. myfoxtampabay.com I already checked for the video and it's not up yet. I will post as soon as it's up.

I hadn't heard of little Pilar until tonight but knew her case had to be on WS. Another beautiful little girl taken too soon.
 
The baby sitter who disappeared with a Hollywood child more than a decade ago was arrested this week and is fighting efforts to bring her to Florida to face a manslaughter charge.

Melissa Harding Jones, formerly Melissa Cooper, was arrested Monday at her home in Everett, Wash., and charged with aggravated manslaughter in connection with the death of Pilar Rodriguez, 4.

Authorities are trying to extradite Jones, 33, to Punta Gorda, where the child was last seen alive and the criminal investigation is based.

A band of retired detectives is credited with finding the evidence that revived the cold case from 1999.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/26/1792608/baby-sitter-accused-in-killing.html#ixzz0xiRWlhAX
 
‎"The 33-year-old mother of two is accused of causing Pilar's death by failing to provide her with medical care or protect her from abuse, according to Jones' arrest warrant."

http://www.sunnewspapers.net/article...ch1.htm&pnpg=0


http://www.news-press.com/article/20...pears-in-court

"Melissa Harding Jones, 32, the woman charged this week in connection with the 1999 death of 4-year-old Pilar Rodriguez in Charlotte County was returned from Washington state and appeared in court this morning.

Detectives also investigated Keith Wilson, Jones' boyfriend at the time, as a suspect and still consider him such. Wilson, who lives in Kentucky, hasn't been charged."

http://www.sunnewspapers.net/article...D=17393&bnpg=0

In January 1999, the then-22-year-old suspect, who was known as Melissa Cooper at that time, took the child from her home in Hollywood, Fla., to Punta Gorda to visit Harding-Jones’ boyfriend, then-28-year-old Keith Wilson, according to sheriff’s reports.

She later told detectives she saw Wilson strike the child so hard she fell backward into a wall, causing a “soft spot” on the back of her skull, according to a 1999 wrongful death lawsuit filed by Pilar’s father, Marco Rodriguez. The child languished for some 48 hours before she died, according to the suit. :furious:

Harding-Jones also has told detectives she saw Wilson put the child’s body in a black plastic bag and leave to dispose of it, the suit states."

Link to Pilar's thread at our Sister Forum at Forums for Justice:

Pilar Rodriguez Breaking News. FFJ's RiverRat is at the Scene - Forums For Justice
 

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A very Big THANK YOU going out to those still following sweet Pilar's Plight with me...It was one second of joy when I heard that this was going down before the realization that any hope that Pilar was still alive somewhere out there in this huge world was also now classified as dead. Justice is Coming, Baby Angel...I'm so sorry that you were ever near these two suspects.

Rest In Peace Pilar~
RR
 
http://www.sunnewspapers.net/article...date=8/31/2010

The arrest affidavit for a Washington state woman charged in the death of a 4-year-old Florida girl more than a decade ago apparently contains a confession of some sort from the suspect herself.

The document, however, has been sealed, and officials are refusing to release details of any recent statements 33-year-old Melissa Ann Harding-Jones may have made in the case.

Officials cite the ongoing, or "active," investigation in sealing related documents in the case. Dommerich ordered the affidavit be sealed for90 days.

Harding-Jones made a first appearance on the charge over the weekend, where she was denied bond. She has hired defense attorney Robert Barrar to represent her. The Miami-based attorney said one of his first orders of business is seeking bond for his client.

"The arrest warrant alleges (aggravated manslaughter) which is a bondable offense. Why they have a no bond, I don't have any answer, but I believe she's entitled to a bond," he said. A bond hearing has been tentatively set for Sept. 14.

The arrest warrant itself speaks volumes, he suggested.

"If it's a failure to protect, then obviously (the state claims) somebody else did the criminal act to this child," he said. "And, I don't think there's any secret who the police think that is."

Harding-Jones' arraignment is set for Oct. 18.
 
Bail set for suspect in Pilar Rodriguez case

A judge during a hearing Tuesday set bail for the woman suspected in the 1999 disappearance and death of 4-year-old Pilar Rodriguez, while also agreeing to terms that would allow her to return to Washington state.

Melissa Harding Jones was given $75,000 bail, with the condition she must pay an additional $5,000 if she leaves the state, according to State Attorney spokeswoman Samantha Syoen.

[snip]

As of Tuesday evening, Jones remained at the Charlotte County jail. She has a hearing scheduled for Oct. 18.

More: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100915/ARTICLE/9151038/2055/NEWS
 
Woman charged in missing-person case seeks to have charges dismissed

The attorney for the woman suspected in the 1999 disappearance and death of Pilar Rodriguez believes the case should be thrown out because it violates Florida's statute of limitations.

In the motion to dismiss the case, attorney Robert Barrar argues Melissa Harding-Jones cannot be charged under state guidelines with aggravated manslaughter of a child since the four-year time frame to pursue such charges expired in 2003.

[snip]

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Dec. 6.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101008/ARTICLE/10081032/2055/NEWS
 
Glad to see an arrest in this case. Hoping this leads to recovering Pilar's remains. So sad for her dad and family.
 
"Man accused in Charlotte Co. cold case appears in court"

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/29567215/man-accused-in-charlotte-co-cold-case-appears-in-court#.VaiPcPlViko

Pilar Rodriguez was last seen in 1999. Her body has never been found. Prosecutors say they have enough evidence to prove Keith Wilson killed her.

42-year-old Keith Wilson was arrested in Kentucky two years ago. He appeared in court with his attorney on Thursday.

It was exactly two years ago that Wilson was arrested. It will likely be another six months before a jury hears any of the evidence and testimony in this case.
Click to expand...
 
The trial for Keith Wilson, who is accused of murdering Pilar Rodriguez, began earlier this week.

Babysitter testifies in Charlotte County child murder trial

Melissa Harding-Jones testified in the trial of ex-boyfriend Keith Wilson, who was arrested in 2013 in Kentucky after new evidence implicated him in the 1999 death of toddler Pilar Rodriguez. Wilson is accused of raping, beating and ultimately killing the girl, whose body was never found.
Click to expand...

Hair subject of testimony in Charlotte County child murder trial

Dark-colored hair that appeared to have been cut was in the area of the bathroom at a Punta Gorda apartment, according to testimony from Debbie Bowe, a retired Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office major crimes detective.

The hair is consistent with a biological child of Pamela and Marco Rodriguez, Pilar’s parents, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement DNA expert testified.
Click to expand...
 
Man found guilty of murdering 3-year-old in 1999

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/36628111/not-ready-to-go-live-man-accused-of-3-year-olds-murder-found-

A jury of six in Charlotte County found Keith Wilson guilty of second degree murder for the disappearance and presumed death of Pilar Rodriguez, 3, in 1999.

“He has no remorse,” the toddler’s grandmother, Shirley Coler said after the verdict. “He doesn’t show any remorse and that hurts.”

“I forgive him as a human being,” Penny Nelson, the victim’s aunt, said. “But I don’t forget his deed.”

Wilson will be sentenced on December 4, where he faces anywhere from 26 years to life in prison.
Click to expand...
 
Wilson, then the boyfriend of the girl’s babysitter, said he last saw the girl in a Punta Gorda apartment on Feb. 1, but when he returned from work Feb. 2, she was gone.

The babysitter, Melissa Harding-Jones, looked confused and told him Pilar was with her dad, Wilson testified.

Wilson said he wasn’t even aware that Pilar was missing until he got a call from the police department in Hollywood, Florida, where the girl lived...

Harding-Jones, who was arrested and accused of being an accessory to the murder, testified earlier in the trial that Wilson told her he put the girl’s body in a garbage bag and buried it.

She admitted that she lied to police about what happened to the girl and that she’s hoping for a lighter sentence in exchange for her testimony.
Click to expand...

https://www.winknews.com/2017/10/17/man-accused-of-punta-gorda-child-murder-takes-stand/
 
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