Man who allegedly stabbed and beat woman before her escape, now accused of trying to have her killed

A Florida man behind bars for allegedly stabbing and holding a woman against her will is now accused of trying to pay someone to kill the same victim.

On June 14, William Rodriguez-Cordero, 41, was charged with solicitation of first-degree murder by the Marion County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office.

Rodriguez-Cordero was being held in connection to an April arrest on charges of attempted second-degree murder, sexual battery involving physical force, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment.

Sheriff’s deputies say Rodriguez-Cordero tried to get another inmate to kill the victim in the April case.

Rodriguez-Cordero told the inmate that he would pay with property at the jail and then give the inmate money once he was released, according to the sheriff’s office. Rodriguez-Cordero told the would-be hitman where to find the victim, where to take her and how to kill her.

Rodriguez-Cordero told the other inmate he stabbed the victim, hoping she would bleed to death, but because she got away, he was looking at life in prison, according to the sheriff’s office.

The fellow inmate told deputies about the plot in hopes of protecting the victim from getting hurt, the agency noted.

Rodriguez-Cordero was arrested on April 8, a day after the victim told the sheriff’s office she was held against her will, sexually assaulted and stabbed by Rodriguez-Cordero.

The victim said after an April 3 dispute, Rodriguez-Cordero hit her in the face repeatedly, according to the sheriff’s office. The victim tried to leave, but Rodriguez-Cordero chased after her and stabbed her.

He then forced her inside and made her clean off the dirt and blood.

Then he started to beat her again. He bandaged her wounds and said he “show her mercy,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Rodriguez-Cordero held the victim against her will for three days and let her “heal,” only to stab and beat her again. On April 7, the victim escaped the home and went to a nearby residence to call 911, according to the sheriff’s office.

Rodriguez-Cordero told deputies he beat the woman but could not remember if he stabbed her.