May 7, 2008 10:49 pm US/Pacific
Questions Linger In I-Street Bridge Fall, Drowning
Reporting
Ron Jones
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
It's suspicious from the start. Now, there's a new twist in a man's deadly fall from Sacramento's I Street bridge. The same man who reported his friend missing is under arrest…but not for murder.
So how did 20-year-old Robert Rodriguez plunge to his death from the I Street bridge? Was he pushed? Did he jump? Or accidently slipped and fell? What we do know is that Robert is dead.
Police say Robert was with a his friend 20-year-old Richard Froemke last month when he some how fell and drowned. Investigators say what's strange is that Froemke didn't tell anyone until four days later. Shortly after that, Rodriguez's body floated to shore.
"Somebody drowned on a Thursday," said Nick Monroe, West Sacramento resident.
Nick Monroe and his buddy Rudy fish near the I Street bridge everyday. They say while police were looking for clues along the river investigators told them that Rodriguez and Froemke were out on this narrow wooden plank that night.
It hangs precariously over the river from the bridge.
"What I heard was that he and his buddy were drinking. They were trying to walk out there and he fell off," said Monroe.
But why did it take four days before anyone knew about it?
"That in itself is very suspicious," said Monroe.
It's suspicious enough for police to question Froemke and they say his story wasn't adding up.
"That gave us even more concern as to the credibility of the initial story," said Sgt. Matt Young, Sacramento Police.
Weeks later, police locked Froemke up for manslaughter. But what led to Robert's death? How did it happen?
"There are so many suspicious circumstances surrounding his death that have gone unanswered," said Sgt. Young.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
