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Family Waits Decade for Justice

By Michael George

RACINE - Ten years after Rudy Rodriguez was killed in a hit and run crash in Racine, family members packed the courtroom Wednesday to face his alleged killer. He's been a free man all these years. "Our brother was taken from us, and he's still been on the streets being able to do what he wanted to do," said Christina Dennis, the sister of Rudy Rodriguez. Police caught Francisco Gonzalez-Cruz 10 years ago, but investigators say he got out on bond and left the country. Police were recently tipped off that Gonzalez-Cruz had returned to Racine, and he was arrested. "It was a good feeling. It was a good feeling he was caught," said Dennis. But in court on Tuesday, the man police arrested claimed he's not Francisco Gonzalez-Cruz. The Racine County District Attorney says fingerprint checks prove he's lying. Rudy Rodriguez was a father of five, and described by family as an outgoing, family man. "He liked to have fun. Bowling, golfing, motorcycling. We miss him," said Dennis. While the family is glad Rudy will finally get justice, the 10-year wait has been difficult. Rudy's father and mother both passed away in recent years. They won't get to see their son's alleged killer stand trial. "We're really hoping it would have happened when they were alive," Dennis said. Francisco Gonzalez-Cruz's bail was set at $100,000. Rodriguez family members say considering his past, he shouldn't have been given bail at all.

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