Bio

Jose Roberto Villafuerte was born on December 2, 1952. He grew up in Honduras. Not much is known about his early life or family background. He later moved to the United States, where he settled in Arizona.

Villafuerte lived in Phoenix for a period of time. During this time, he had a girlfriend named Amelia Schoville. They had a relationship that was marked by conflicts. Villafuerte was in his early thirties when they became involved.

At the time of his arrest in February 1983, he was reported to have been living in a trailer. He had moved to the United States for better opportunities and had spent significant time in Arizona. Prior to his arrest, Villafuerte had been driving a car that belonged to Schoville.

Murder Story

On February 22, 1983, Jose Roberto Villafuerte was arrested near Ash Fork, Arizona. He was found sleeping in a dry river bed next to a car that belonged to his girlfriend, Amelia Schoville. Villafuerte explained to the police that he and Schoville had a fight the day before in his Phoenix trailer. He stated that he had tied her up to prevent her from calling the police and that he left her in the trailer.

When police officers arrived at the trailer, they discovered Schoville's body on the bed. She was partially undressed and had her hands tied behind her back. One of her ankles was bound to her hands with a strip of bedding. Her head was wrapped in a sheet and thermal underwear, which were stained with blood. A ball of fabric from a bed sheet was found lodged in her throat.

Forensic tests revealed the presence of seminal fluid. The medical examination concluded that Schoville had died from asphyxiation after choking on the fabric in her mouth. Prosecutors charged Villafuerte with the murder, arguing that he had brutally beaten Schoville and left her tied up. They alleged that she suffered for 24 hours before ultimately dying.

Villafuerte admitted to hitting Schoville but claimed that after he left the trailer, he asked two friends to untie her. He alleged that these friends were responsible for raping her and leaving her to die. His trial began on July 11, 1983, and the jury found him guilty. He was sentenced to death on September 9, 1983.

After spending more than 14 years on death row, Villafuerte was executed by lethal injection on April 22, 1998. It was reported that he showed no remorse at his execution, claiming he "loved everybody." While he maintained his innocence until the end, various appeals for clemency were denied, including a plea from the Honduran President. Villafuerte's case raised concerns about international law and the treatment of foreign nationals in the American justice system.