Man wanted for double knife attack in Worcester killed his wife in 2004

A Worcester man wanted by police in connection with the stabbing murders of two women on Saturday was already in prison for killing his estranged wife in 2004.

Worcester police named 59-year-old William Rodriguez as a person of interest in the latest homicide investigation after officers responded to a 911 call and found two women dead with “multiple stab wounds” in a Main Street apartment.

The Worcester County District Attorney's Office confirmed that Rodriguez had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2007 stabbing death of his wife. Prosecutors claimed Rodriguez was motivated by the couple's failing marriage and his inability to cope with the prospect of being separated from his children. Telegram & Gazette was reported at the time.

He was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison and released on parole on June 7, 2019, prosecutors confirmed.

Rodriguez is now charged with armed assault with intent to murder and armed assault with intent to murder on a person over 60 years of age.

The names of the victims have not been released publicly by authorities, but NBC10 Boston spoke to family members who identified the women as mother and daughter Sergia Acosta, 76, and Ana Maria Martinez, 58. According to a statement of facts filed in Worcester District Court, Rodriguez was dating the younger woman, but the couple had been arguing.

Rodriguez allegedly sent Martinez a video message earlier in the day suggesting that she was “cheating” on him. According to court documents, a note found in Rodriguez's apartment read in Spanish: “Women who make mistakes get what they deserve.”

Before emergency responders arrived and found the two women dead, Rodriguez was reportedly the last person seen on surveillance video entering or leaving the apartment where the bodies were found.

According to the statement of facts, Worcester police received a call asking for Rodriguez on Saturday afternoon, just minutes before the 911 call about the bodies. The callers requesting the check told police that Rodriguez had left his car and keys at one of the callers' homes and left on foot.

“Rodriguez is a clear flight risk and has a strong likelihood of committing a crime involving assault in the future,” authorities claimed in the court document, citing a criminal history stretching back more than two decades.

Rodriguez is considered armed and dangerous, Worcester police said in their bulletin Sunday. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact detectives at 508-799-8651. Community members can also submit anonymous tips through the police website or text 274637 with the keyword “TIPWPD” followed by a message.