Year 8: Joliet Murder Defendant Still In Jail Awaiting Trial

JOLIET, IL — A 26-year-old first-degree murder defendant from the Plainfield area of Joliet is now in his eighth year of incarceration at Will County's Jail awaiting his jury trial. However, there are some new developments in the case of Rodolfo Trujillo, who has been in custody since Joliet police detectives arrested him way back on Nov. 9, 2015.

A day earlier, 25-year-old Rudy Valdez died from a fatal stabbing in Trujillo's yard on the far west side of Joliet, in the 2900 block of Reflection Drive, near County Line Road.

Less than three months ago, on Oct. 21, Trujillo's third different private criminal defense law firm, attorney Alison Motta of Aurora's Motta & Motta, informed Will County court officials of her motion to withdraw as Trujillo's lawyer. That same day, Chuck Bretz & Associates notified Will County it was now the counsel of record for the long-time Joliet murder defendant.

On Dec. 23, Bretz submitted a court filing on Trujillo's behalf stating his client intends to assert five different defenses at the trial: presumption of innocence, self-defense, defense of others, defense of property and defense of dwelling.

Will Trujillo's murder trial take place in 2023? It's definitely a possibility, now more than ever, according to the latest court filings.

On Jan. 31, Will County Judge Vincent Cornelius will have Trujillo back in Courtroom 404 for another pretrial hearing. That morning, the judge is expected to set a date for Trujillo's trial, court files show.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Joliet's Rodolfo Trujillo Did Not Commit 1st Degree Murder: Witness

Year 7: Joliet Murder Defendant Still In Jail Awaiting Trial

48 Murder Defendants In Will County Await Trial