In the winter of 2015, a tragic event unfolded in a south Wichita, Kansas apartment that ended the life of 22-year-old Hispanic female, Lucero Rodriguez. On the evening of January 14th, Rodriguez and her 24-year-old husband, Manuel Alvarado-Meraz, were fatally shot in the home they shared. The couple’s bodies were discovered by Manuel's father who had gone to check on them.
The ensuing investigation quickly focused on a prime suspect: Manuel's identical twin brother, Luis
Alvarado-Meraz, who also lived in the apartment with the couple. Evidence suggested a violent encounter, with authorities stating that Luis fired numerous shots from an AK-47-style rifle and a handgun. Lucero was shot at least eight times, while her husband Manuel sustained at least eleven gunshot wounds. Within 16 hours of the discovery of the bodies, Luis was arrested in connection with the double homicide.
Prosecutors charged Luis Alvarado-Meraz with capital murder, alleging that the killings were premeditated. During the legal proceedings, it was revealed that an argument had likely preceded the fatal shootings, though a specific motive was not extensively detailed in public reports. The case drew significant attention due to the shocking nature of a man being accused of killing his own twin brother and sister-in-law.
In October 2018, a jury found Luis Alvarado-Meraz guilty of capital murder in the deaths of his twin brother and Lucero Rodriguez. The jury deliberated for about ninety minutes before reaching their verdict. Following his conviction, Luis was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The tragic case left the families of both Lucero and Manuel devastated by the loss of the young couple at the hands of a close family member.
