Bloody knife, stains help convict 50-year-old in 2017 murder

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The victim’s blood on a knife and suspects’ shoes helped convict a 50-year-old man of a fatal stabbing in 2017 at apartments on the city’s east side, Marion County prosecutors said Thursday. 

David Rojas, who had no home address in online court records, was convicted Tuesday in the murder of Jose Santos Garcia-Lopez, 35. Lopez’s body was found in a dumpster about 12:30 p.m. Feb. 18, 2017, at the Spanish Oaks apartments in the 3600 block of Wingate Court. 

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers followed a trail of blood from the dumpster to the front door of a nearby apartment leased by Abel Campos, prosecutors said Thursday. Investigators found blood and a bloody shoe print inside the apartment. 

Campos told investigators he and Rojas had been drinking with Lopez at his apartment but initially denied knowing anything about the blood inside his apartment or that any struggle occurred. But, investigators noticed dried blood on Campos’ shoes.

Investigators also noticed dried blood on Rojas’ pants and shoes during his interview. Rojas stated he believed the stains were from a trash bag he had taken to the dumpster near the apartment.

It was later confirmed that the victim’s blood was located on both Rojas’ and Campos’ shoes.

Prosecutors said further investigation found that Rojas’ fingerprints were on the utility knife in the dumpster. 

On April 8, Campos pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Campos testified in the prosecution of Rojas.

Rojas’ sentencing hearing will be 11 a.m. May 1.

Campos sentencing hearing will be 11 a.m. April 17 in Criminal Court 4.