2nd Degree Murder Convictions Secured for 2019 Double-Homicide

Gonzalo Salinas-Cisneros, 27, of Conover, was sentenced to a serve a prison term of 26 to 33 years for his role in the October 2019 murder of two people.

The Honorable Gregory R. Hayes, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, imposed the prison term for Salinas-Cisneros following his guilty plea to two charges of second-degree murder during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Salinas-Cisneros entered the plea in connection with the deaths of 42-year-old Brandi Amber Rodriguez and her 24-year-old son Jesse Anthony Rodriguez. He will serve his period of incarceration in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.

“There is no resolution in court that will bring comfort to those grieving the loss of their loved ones,” Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown said. “We are otherwise satisfied with this outcome and thank our District Attorney’s Office for their work in bringing this matter to a conclusion. Our prayers continue to be with the family of Brandi and Jesse Rodriguez.”    

During a late-night patrol on October 13, 2019, a deputy with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office was approached by the defendant, who indicated there were people who needed help in a nearby mobile home.

When deputies responded to the residence and entered, they found both victims deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. A witness, who also resided at the residence and had called 911, told deputies that Salinas-Cisneros had shot both victims. The defendant was located and apprehended a short distance from the residence.

Other witnesses at the scene told deputies that the defendant began firing shots in the mobile home, striking both victims.

Investigators recovered a 9-millimeter handgun in a bedroom of the mobile home along with multiple projectiles and seven spent shell casings. Projectiles recovered from the victims during an autopsy were sent to the North Carolina State Crime Lab where they were compared to test firings from the handgun recovered at the scene. Results showed they were fired from the handgun found by investigators.

The defendant admitted to shooting both victims during an interview with Investigator Mike Crisp, telling him that there was a “bad vibe” from the victims.

Mike Crisp investigated the case for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Ben Faulkenberry prosecuted the case for the State.

CONTACT: Nathan Key
Phone: 828-695-6193
Email: Nathan.D.Key@nccourts.org