Killer Handyman Caught Miles Away for Horrifying Slaughter

Hours before the murder, Alexander Rodgers was stopped by police for driving a car with mismatched license plates. The bodycam footage from this routine interaction, where Rodgers identified himself, became instrumental in issuing a national 'Be On the Lookout' (BOLO) and tracking him after the murder.

Police had interacted with this suspect hours before the murder. Sergeant Trevino's bodycam recorded Alexander Rodgers identifying himself due to his car's plates not matching the vehicle. Police used this video to identify Rodgers and issue a national BOLO. [00:01:56]

After the murders, Alexander Rodgers fled hundreds of miles from Washington to Los Angeles, California. Investigators determined he intentionally dumped his cell phone at a McDonald's, believing it would prevent police from tracking his movements.

For 8 days, Alexander Rodgers was on the run, eventually tracked down hundreds of miles away in Los Angeles. Police stated he dumped his cell phone at a McDonald's before fleeing to California, believing he could be tracked with it. [00:03:40]

Detectives initially attempted to build rapport with Rodgers by asking about his hobbies, work ethic, and religious beliefs, framing him as a 'good guy' in a tough spot. This approach aimed to encourage him to open up before directly confronting him with evidence like bloody clothes found in his car and surveillance footage.

Interrogators asked about hobbies, work, and faith (00:05:05-00:08:56). They later stated, 'I don't think you're a bad guy. I think you're a hard worker. You're honest. I think you're in a tough spot right now.' [00:18:22]

During interrogation, Rodgers repeatedly asserted that a murder conviction was impossible without the physical presence of a 'murder weapon.' He challenged detectives to produce the weapon, believing its absence would exonerate him, demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of forensic evidence and legal proof.

Rodgers repeatedly demanded, 'Where is the murder weapon? What is the murder weapon?' (00:19:53). He claimed, 'There has to be a murder weapon in order for someone to be blamed for a murder.' [00:20:15] The interrogator countered, 'You don't need a murder weapon for a murder to happen.' [00:23:51]

After initially denying any knowledge of the crime, Rodgers later changed his story while being transported. He fabricated a detailed account claiming he witnessed the brother-in-law (Dwayne) use a surgical scalpel to kill Don Peters and then stab himself, attempting to shift blame to the surviving victim.

Rogers stated, 'He says he did witness Don Peters' murder, but he wasn't the one who did it. He says it was the brother-in-law who stabbed and killed Don Peters and then turned the knife on himself.' [00:29:16] He described the brother-in-law using a 'scalpel' to cut Don's throat and then his own. [00:29:28]