In the early morning hours of August 16, 2021, the life of 52-year-old Valerie Munoz-Infante was tragically cut short in her Pueblo, Colorado home. Police responded to a call of a shooting at a residence on Box Elder Street around 2:45 a.m. and found Valerie inside with gunshot wounds. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The initial investigation did not immediately lead to an arrest, leaving her family searching for answers and justice.
Valerie's daughters, Sabrina Oliver and Hannah Vigil, were left heartbroken and frustrated by the initial pace of the investigation. They publicly voiced their concerns, stating they had received little information from law enforcement in the days following their mother's death. From the beginning, they identified Valerie's 64-year-old boyfriend, Albert Rodriguez, as the person they believed was responsible, telling investigators he had shot her in the back. Despite their assertions, Rodriguez was not immediately taken into custody.
For four months, Valerie's family waited in anguish as the investigation continued. During this time, her daughters alleged that Rodriguez was selling her personal belongings, adding to their grief. Finally, on December 17, 2021, the Pueblo Police Department arrested Albert Rodriguez at his home on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with Valerie's death. While the arrest brought a sense of relief to her family, they still grappled with the loss of a woman described as the glue that held their family together. A former bus driver and hospice worker, Valerie was remembered for her love of sewing, coloring, arts and crafts, and most of all, the cherished time she spent with her grandchildren.
