He subsequently came to Tucson and stayed with the family of his aunt, Rosemary Kanspedos, for a month. He received a job as an electrician, never divulging the details of his prior life to his boss or his wife. Prior to 2005, Rodriguez moved into an apartment on Tucson's North Side. On January 7, of that year, Rodriguez recorded a videotape in which he discussed his thoughts of suicide and his desire for revenge, describing himself as a vigilante. He presented numerous weapons including a Glock 23 pistol, a KA-BAR knife, a drill, a soldering iron, and duct tape, some of which he planned to use for torture. Rodriguez specifically named Zerby as his target, stating that if he did not find her before he died, he "will keep hunting her in the next life" or someone else will "pick up the torch". Rodriguez alluded to Smith as a person he intended to kill and predicted his upcoming actions would result in conflict with law enforcement, but insisted he intended no harm towards law enforcement. After recording the video, Rodriguez called Celeste Jones and told her of his suicidal thoughts. She encouraged him to testify in a legal case and said "things will be taken seriously". He replied that he did not believe her. Rodriguez sent copies of the video to Munumel, two of his family members, and Martin. The next day, Rodriguez invited Smith to dinner in his apartment. After she arrived, Rodriguez stabbed her several times in the arm then slit her throat. Rodriguez then left his apartment and drove to Blythe, California, where he arrived at midnight. He rented a motel room and began to call his family members in Lakewood, Washington, notifying them of a body in his apartment. Next, Rodriguez pulled into a parking lot near 14th Avenue, called Munumel, told her he had killed Smith, and asked her to call the police. He also told Munumel he had killed Smith to avenge his sister Techi and those still in The Family rather than himself. He said Smith "didn't understand what she had done wrong" as she was dying. Rodriguez called the murder "the hardest thing I ever did in my life" and said it did not make him feel better. Munumel claims that Rodriguez pleaded with her to commit suicide with him, then said goodbye to her and hung up. At roughly 2 a.m.,