Springfield man accused of fatally stabbing girlfriend pleads not guilty

There was an arraignment Tuesday for a man accused of stabbing his girlfriend in the neck.


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Springfield man accused of fatally stabbing girlfriend pleads not guilty Posted: Mar 21, 2017 5:32 PM EDT Updated: Mar 21, 2017 6:40 PM EDT By Adam SullivanCONNECT WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. - There was an arraignment Tuesday for a man accused of stabbing his girlfriend in the neck. The victim ended up dying at the hospital and court documents state that the victim's sister witnessed the entire incident. No family members were in court for the arraignment which only lasted a couple minutes. WCAX News did learn that the suspect has a long criminal history and a violent past. Arnaldo Cruz, 53, is originally from New Jersey where he has been charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated assault. Tuesday, the man who police say was living from house to house in Springfield and speaks little English stood before a judge accused of killing his girlfriend, Betty Rodriguez, 58, with a knife a day earlier. "The first charge is second-degree murder. The second charge is involuntary manslaughter with a habitual criminal enhancement for having been convicted of three prior felonies in the state of New Jersey," said David Cahill, Windsor County state's attorney. The deadly stabbing took place inside an apartment complex on Union Street in Springfield. It was the home of the victim's sister. She told police that Cruz and her sister were often fighting and Monday was no different. "The affidavit of probable cause indicates that there was a protracted period of arguing between the defendant and the victim," said Cahill. Police say the argument between the couple then turned violent. "At some point, at the end of that period of argument, the defendant, again according to the affidavit of probable cause, stabbed the victim in the neck and then attempted to stab her again," said Cahill. According to court documents, Cruz then told the victim's sister that he was going to wait outside for police to show up while the victim pleaded for her sister to save her life. 911 was called and she was transported to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Vermont State Police were seen scouring the street Monday afternoon looking for clues. Cruz pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday in court. He is currently being held without bail. Related Stories: Police investigate fatal stabbing near Springfield school 2017-03-22 / Front Page Print article Print Man arrested in fatal stabbing pleads not guilty By ALLAN STEIN Eagle Times correspondent WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Police said a Springfield man charged with the brutal stabbing death of his longtime girlfriend showed no emotion when police informed him that the woman he commonly referred to as his “wife” was dead. “His response to me telling him that his long-term and self-proclaimed wife of 16-17 years died, was cold and lifeless, [was] as if he had no further emotional bearing or concern for her,” said Springfield Detective Patrick A. Call in a sworn affidavit. Arnaldo Cruz, 53, was ordered held without bail on Tuesday after he pleaded not guilty in Windsor Superior Criminal Court to charges of 2nd Degree Murder and manslaughter. Judge Theresa S. DiMauro ruled that Cruz “was not entitled to bail as a matter of right” given the seriousness of the alleged offenses. A disheveled Cruz entered the courtroom at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday wearing only a white undershirt and blue pants. His attorney is Jordana M. Levine. Windsor County Attorney David J. Cahill presented the no-bail argument noting Cruz’s long criminal history that included aggravated assault, possession of controlled drugs, and theft in New Jersey, where he previously resided. Cahill said it was Cruz’s “intent to return to New Jersey,” having “no stable residence,” making him a risk for flight. Cruz, a native of Puerto Rico, is charged with the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend, Betty Rodriguez, 57, in the residence at 25 Union St. in Springfield at 1:50 p.m. Monday. According to several other witnesses who were at the scene, Cruz allegedly became upset when Rodriguez wouldn’t allow him go to the welfare office in Springfield because he had been drinking. The two argued, and when Rodriguez asked Cruz to leave the apartment, he allegedly drew a 4-inch folding knife and stabbed her once in the neck, police said. Police said Cruz tried to stab Rodriguez a second time but the knife blade folded backward. “As Arnaldo stabbed Betty, [a female witness] described Betty as turning towards her looking for help as Arnaldo made a physical attempt to stab Betty again,” Call wrote in the affidavit. “[The witness] advised she watched as the life appeared to be pouring out of Betty. [The witness] advised she asked Arnaldo what are you doing as she grabbed Betty away from Arnaldo. As Arnaldo left to go outside [the witness] said that Arnaldo had told her that ‘I don’t care, I don’t care any more, I don’t give a [expletive] let the police come and get me I don’t care,’” Call added. Rodriguez was taken by town ambulance to Springfield Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.