Marmolejo Trial: Defendant’s Grandmother Cries On Stand
Several of the people closest to David Marmolejo took the stand on Tuesday, including one of his best friends and his grandparents.
David has been charged with murder in the July 2009 death of his mother, Gloria Marmolejo.
Just one question into her testimony and Mary Rodriguez, David’s grandmother, started crying on the stand. Gloria was her only daughter.
David also couldn’t hold back tears. His grandmother’s testimony was cut short because of an objection by the defense. She took the stand again in the afternoon.
Mary said Gloria arrived from Phoenix and went to her East Side home the day she disappeared.
According to Mary, Gloria said, “‘I’m tired, but I’m very, very angry. The house is a mess and it smells terrible in here.'”
Mary also talked about Mariah Wilson, David’s stepsister and girlfriend at the time.
“I really only knew about her because of Gloria. She was hurt. She was like, ‘What could I do next to stop this relationship?'”
Salvardor Rodriguez also took the stand. He is married to Mary and was Gloria’s stepfather.
Salvador told the jury that one day, they found some unexpected clothing in Gloria’s home.
“One day, my wife and I went to the house. In the bedroom, I saw…I thought they were his daughter’s …” Salvador said.
District Attorney Jaime Esparza said, “You mean, ladies underwear?”
“Yes. I guess they belonged to Mariah (,” Salvador said.
One of David’s closest friends also took the stand. Katherine Thompson is married to Michael Thompson and said she’s known David for almost 15 years.
She said she’s been interviewed several times by El Paso Police about times David and Wilson spent at her house. Thompson told the jury the interview process was not a pleasant one.
Greg Anderson, Defense Attorney asked Thompson, “Did Detective Joe Ochoa attempt to influence these times?
Thompson responded, “Yes. He treated us very badly, like we were suspects.”
Anderson asked Thompson if Ochoa bullied her and Thompson responded that he tried to.
