Digest

This episode of True Crime All the Time delves into the tragic murder of Dioneth Lopez, a 21-year-old woman found dead on Valentine's Day 2020 in a remote area of the Olympic National Forest in Washington state. The investigation quickly focused on her boyfriend, Alex Rojas, who was married with two children and had been in a secret on-again, off-again relationship with Dioneth for two years. The episode details the investigation, highlighting the crucial role of social media in identifying both Dioneth and Alex. Detectives used security footage from a gas station near the crime scene to identify the truck Alex was driving, and through social media posts and information shared by Dioneth's friends, they were able to connect the dots and identify Alex as a suspect. The episode also explores the interrogation of Alex, where detectives used a clever strategy to get him to confess. They initially lied to Alex, telling him they were investigating a missing person's case, and then presented him with a theory of what happened, suggesting that Dioneth had attacked him with a knife and he had defended himself with a tequila bottle. Alex, seemingly desperate to escape the situation, changed his story and admitted to the altercation, ultimately leading to his arrest and conviction for second-degree murder. The episode concludes with a discussion of the case's details and the detectives' belief that Dioneth traveled to Washington to talk to Alex about their relationship and tell him she wanted to spend more time together. They went to the woods for privacy, and the altercation likely stemmed from Dioneth's desire for a more committed relationship. The episode highlights the tragic consequences of a secret relationship and the dangers of alcohol and violence.

Outlines

00:01:31

Introduction and Corrections

This Chapter begins with the hosts, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson, welcoming listeners to episode 392 of The True Crime All the Time Podcast. Mike Ferguson addresses a mistake made in the previous episode, where he incorrectly referred to the city of Edinburgh as "Edinburg." He acknowledges the error and apologizes to listeners for the mistake.

00:02:25

Patreon Shoutouts

This Chapter features the hosts expressing gratitude to their Patreon supporters, acknowledging new members and those who have upgraded their tiers. They highlight the importance of Patreon support in allowing them to continue producing the podcast.

00:03:41

Case Introduction: Dioneth Lopez

This Chapter introduces the case of Dioneth Lopez, a 21-year-old woman found dead on a logging road in Washington state on Valentine's Day 2020. The hosts provide details about Dioneth's life, her personality, and her close relationships with her friends, Armando Luna and Sarah Gonzales Torres. They also discuss Dioneth's work at Amazon and her decision to travel to Seattle in February 2020.

00:06:45

Dioneth's Relationship with Alex Rojas

This Chapter focuses on Dioneth's relationship with Alex Rojas, a married father of two who was in a secret relationship with Dioneth for about two years. The hosts discuss the challenges of maintaining a secret relationship and the potential for conflict and tension. They also explore the dynamics of on-again, off-again relationships and the reasons why people might choose to stay in them despite the difficulties.

00:11:33

The Discovery of Dioneth's Body

This Chapter details the discovery of Dioneth's body by a passerby in a remote section of the Olympic National Forest. The hosts describe the scene, including the significant injuries to Dioneth's body, which indicate a brutal and vicious attack. They also discuss the evidence found at the scene, including a broken tequila bottle, a red knife, and a box cutter.

00:17:50

Identifying the Victim and Suspect

This Chapter focuses on the investigation's efforts to identify Dioneth and the suspect. The hosts discuss the importance of identifying the victim in a case, as it is crucial for kickstarting the investigation. They describe how detectives used security footage from a gas station near the crime scene to identify the truck Alex was driving and then used social media posts and information shared by Dioneth's friends to identify Alex as a suspect.

00:34:50

Alex Rojas's Interrogation

This Chapter details the interrogation of Alex Rojas, where detectives used a clever strategy to get him to confess. They initially lied to Alex, telling him they were investigating a missing person's case, and then presented him with a theory of what happened, suggesting that Dioneth had attacked him with a knife and he had defended himself with a tequila bottle. Alex, seemingly desperate to escape the situation, changed his story and admitted to the altercation, ultimately leading to his arrest and conviction for second-degree murder.

00:57:59

Conclusion and Analysis

This Chapter concludes the episode with a discussion of the case's details and the detectives' belief that Dioneth traveled to Washington to talk to Alex about their relationship and tell him she wanted to spend more time together. They went to the woods for privacy, and the altercation likely stemmed from Dioneth's desire for a more committed relationship. The episode highlights the tragic consequences of a secret relationship and the dangers of alcohol and violence.

Keywords

Q&A

• How did detectives identify Dioneth Lopez and Alex Rojas?

  Detectives used security footage from a gas station near the crime scene to identify the truck Alex was driving. They then used social media posts and information shared by Dioneth's friends to connect the dots and identify Alex as a suspect. Social media played a crucial role in the investigation, helping detectives to quickly identify both the victim and the suspect.

• What strategy did detectives use to get Alex Rojas to confess?

  Detectives initially lied to Alex, telling him they were investigating a missing person's case. They then presented him with a theory of what happened, suggesting that Dioneth had attacked him with a knife and he had defended himself with a tequila bottle. Alex, seemingly desperate to escape the situation, changed his story and admitted to the altercation, ultimately leading to his arrest and conviction for second-degree murder.

• What were the key details of the altercation between Alex Rojas and Dioneth Lopez?

  According to Alex's confession, he and Dioneth got into an altercation in the woods after drinking too much tequila. Dioneth allegedly threatened Alex with a knife, and he defended himself by hitting her with a tequila bottle. The altercation resulted in Dioneth's death from multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.

• Why was Alex Rojas charged with second-degree murder instead of first-degree murder?

  Alex was charged with second-degree murder because the prosecution was able to prove that he killed Dioneth intentionally, but not that he planned the murder in advance. The details of the altercation, including the fact that it occurred after drinking and that Alex initially lied about his involvement, likely contributed to the decision to charge him with second-degree murder.

• What role did social media play in the investigation of Dioneth Lopez's murder?

  Social media played a crucial role in the investigation, helping detectives to quickly identify both the victim and the suspect. Dioneth's friend, Armando Luna, posted a photo of her on Facebook and Twitter with the caption "Missing Person," which helped to spread awareness of her disappearance and to generate tips from the public. Another friend, Sarah Gonzales Torres, provided detectives with information about Alex Rojas, including a photo of him that matched the description of the truck driver in the gas station footage. The case highlights the growing importance of social media in criminal investigations and the potential for it to be used both to solve crimes and to spread misinformation.

Show Notes