In a case that has captured the attention of the local community and beyond, Jose Eduardo Dominguez-Garcia, 27, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Rosaly Cindy Chavarria Rodriguez, 25.
The crime, which took place in July 2020, ended with the discovery of Chavarria Rodriguez’s remains in a suitcase in an abandoned farmhouse in Wisconsin Dells.
The Gruesome Discovery
Chavarria Rodriguez was reported missing in July 2020, after last being seen working at Sprecher’s Restaurant in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. Dominguez-Garcia was initially suspected but was not apprehended until November 2023.
The search for Chavarria Rodriguez’s remains continued until an informant led police to a vacant farmhouse in Wheaton, Wisconsin, where they discovered her body stuffed into a purple suitcase in October 2020.
The remains were not immediately identified, but an autopsy confirmed her identity and determined she had been seven weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
The Plea and Sentencing
On January 8, 2025, Dominguez-Garcia pleaded no contest to first-degree reckless homicide in a plea agreement. As part of the deal, the charges related to homicide of an unborn child and hiding a corpse were dismissed.
Judge James M. Isaacson sentenced Dominguez-Garcia to 25 years of initial confinement, followed by 15 years of extended supervision, bringing the total sentence to 40 years. Dominguez-Garcia was credited with 525 days of time served prior to sentencing.
Family’s Response
The sentence, while significant, fell short of what Chavarria Rodriguez’s family had hoped for. Her father, Jorge Chavarria, expressed his frustration, stating, “It was two lives that he took away, one was my daughter and the other was the baby my daughter had.”
He had hoped for a 60-year sentence, the maximum penalty, and urged the court to show no compassion for Dominguez-Garcia, as he felt his daughter had not received any compassion from him.
The Timeline of Events
Chavarria Rodriguez’s tragic death began with her breakup with Dominguez-Garcia in July 2020, after he allegedly discovered she had cheated on him and that another man had fathered the child she was carrying.
After she went missing, Dominguez-Garcia was questioned by police but initially denied involvement, later claiming they had broken up.
However, police investigation revealed that Dominguez-Garcia had picked up her final paycheck from the restaurant days after her disappearance. Police also found Chavarria Rodriguez’s car, with evidence suggesting a body had been hidden in the trunk.
The investigation eventually led to the farmhouse where her body was found, but it took months to confirm her identity. The discovery was a relief to the family, but their pain and loss remain.
Chavarria Rodriguez’s Legacy
Chavarria Rodriguez leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter, who now lives with her grandmother in Peru. The family has struggled with the inability to give her a proper burial, but Judge Isaacson ordered that Chavarria Rodriguez’s remains be released to her family, allowing them to finally lay her to rest.
Her father described her as a responsible, family-oriented woman who enjoyed studying and had a vibrant spirit. “She was a family girl,” Jorge Chavarria said, reflecting on his daughter’s life and the loss they now face.