Wendy Di Rodio, a family therapist and author, was killed in 2009.
From a previous Breeze issue: “After a three-year investigation, the Ventura Police Department arrested Gina Drake, 45, for the murder of her aunt Wendy Di Rodio. Di Rodio, 61, was stabbed repeatedly in her room in her home in the Ventura Keys neighborhood on June 3, 2009.”
“Gina Drake is the former wife of VPD veteran Police Officer Aaron Drake, The Drakes were married at the time of the homicide, but Officer Drake had filed for divorce in June, 2009 (about the time of the murder) and they have since been divorced.”
Why is this important now?
In a suicide attempt, VPD patrol officer Aaron Drake, 47, shot himself around 1:30 p.m. on July 28 in the locker room of the Ventura Police Department headquarters located on Dowell Dr. (officer Dowell remains the only Ventura officer killed in the line of duty).
He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center and eventually to Kaiser Permanente hospital in Los Angeles where he is being treated.
Apparently Aaron Drake was very involved with the investigation in to his ex-wife’s case, even wearing a wire in a meeting with her. The investigation is being conducted by the Ventura Police Department and the Ventura County District Attorney Office.
Defense attorneys for Gina Drake, as well as prosecutors, want to call the officer as a witness during pretrial motions and for her future trial.
Activities have been delayed pending the condition of Aaron Drake and his ability to be a witness in the case.
It has not been determined if his involvement with Gina Drake’s pending trial predicated his attempted suicide.
