A Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, whose body he concealed in a suitcase and abandoned on a remote farm. Jose Eduardo Dominguez Garcia, 30, entered a no-contest plea to first-degree intentional homicide earlier this year, bringing a grim, nearly five-year investigation to a close.
The case began on October 14, 2020, in rural Chippewa County. A man scavenging on an abandoned farm discovered a purple suitcase that appeared out of place. Upon opening it, he found the decomposing remains of a woman. The discovery sparked a complex investigation, with authorities quickly declaring the case a homicide but struggling to identify the victim.
For months, the woman was known only as Jane Doe. She had long black hair and was wearing black stretch pants and a t-shirt from a local restaurant. A potential first name, Rosalie, emerged from missing persons databases, but confirmation remained elusive. The breakthrough came almost a year later, in September 2021, when DNA analysis positively identified the victim as Rosali “Rosalie” Cindy Shavira Rodriguez, 24.
Authorities revealed Rosalie had recently immigrated from Peru and was several months pregnant when she vanished in July 2020. The focus of the investigation swiftly turned to her boyfriend, Jose Eduardo Dominguez Garcia. An arrest warrant was issued for Garcia in December 2021, but he had already fled Wisconsin, beginning a nearly two-year period on the run.
His flight ended on November 23, 2023, in Missouri. A state trooper pulled over a vehicle with stolen license plates. The driver initially identified himself as Miguel Torres, but officials determined his true identity was Garcia. A records check revealed he was wanted for homicide in Wisconsin, leading to his immediate detention and eventual extradition.
In court proceedings, prosecutors detailed a brutal and callous crime. They stated Garcia killed Rosalie, who was pregnant with his child, by strangulation. He then left her body in a parking lot before procuring a suitcase, placing her remains inside, and driving to the abandoned farm to dispose of her. He offered no aid and reported her missing to no one.
During his sentencing hearing on May 2, 2025, prosecutors emphasized the dual loss of life. “Here we have two lives lost,” the state argued. “Both of those individuals lost their lives at the hands of the defendant.” They also highlighted Garcia’s attempt to blame the victim, noting he had claimed the homicide occurred because Rosalie “wouldn’t leave him alone.”
Garcia spoke briefly before sentencing, offering an apology to Rosalie’s family. “I know that words will not change anything,” he said. “I really feel bad for the family. I want to tell them that I feel so sorry.” His defense sought a lighter sentence, but the judge was unmoved by the last-minute expression of remorse.
Chippewa County Judge Steven Gibbs condemned Garcia’s actions and his lengthy evasion of justice. “The crime was indescribable,” Judge Gibbs stated. “I think the fact that you were on the run for four years speaks volumes about your character.” The judge noted the profound impact on Rosalie’s family, particularly her young daughter.
“How do you tell a nine-year-old her mother was murdered? How do you tell a nine-year-old her mom’s not coming back?” the judge asked. He then imposed a 40-year sentence, consisting of 25 years of initial confinement in prison followed by 15 years of extended supervision. Garcia was also convicted for the homicide of the unborn child and hiding a corpse.
The investigation involved multiple witnesses, including an inmate who told police Garcia had confessed to finding a body but was too scared to report it because his fingerprints were on the suitcase. This early tip eventually led detectives to Garcia, though it took years to fully piece together the tragic sequence of events.
Jose Eduardo Dominguez Garcia is now in the custody of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to begin his lengthy prison term. The sentence brings a measure of justice for Rosalie Rodriguez and her family, closing a chapter on a crime that horrified the local community and underscored the devastating consequences of domestic violence.