After multiple missteps in the prosecution of a 2020 Phoenix murder case, Alfredo Gutierrez was rearrested at the Douglas Port of Entry, facing charges for the killing of Lee Rice. According to 12News, Rice, aged 34 at his death, was found zip-tied and stuffed into a barrel inside Gutierrez's home.
The case against Gutierrez has been a roller coaster, with charges being dismissed twice because a key witness, integral to the state’s case, was deported and could not be located thereafter. The victim’s mother, Colleen Rice, has been unrelenting in her quest for justice. “I want answers. I want somebody arrested for something," Rice told 12News. Her determination prompted yet another arrest of Gutierrez, who now faces second-degree murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault charges.
The renewed action comes after the Maricopa County Attorney's Office re-indicted Gutierrez on February 9. A spokesperson for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office confirmed the February 17 arrest. Gutierrez is held on a hefty $1 million cash bond as he claims residency in Mexico and is suspected of drug dealing. Colleen Rice has vowed to persist in her fight. “He's got to know I'm there. I'm not going anywhere," she said, preparing for yet another court battle.
Gutierrez is expected to face a court for arraignment, marking the beginning of a potential third attempt to secure a conviction in a case fraught with complications. However, it still remains unclear if the state has successfully located its key witness. "I’m trying to stay calm. Trying to stay hopeful," Rice expressed to 12News, as the quest for justice in her son's untimely death continues.
