PHOENIX — A Phoenix mother has been fighting for justice since her son was murdered in 2020. She's now one week away from the start of the trial for the man accused of killing him.
Colleen Rice has been on an emotional rollercoaster since her son, Lee, was killed. In October 2020, Phoenix PD found Lee's body zip-tied inside a barrel in a Phoenix home. They immediately arrested Alfredo Gutierrez and he was subsequently charged with first-degree murder.
Lee was killed weeks before his 35th birthday.
Just before the case was set to go to trial, a key witness, who told police Gutierrez was responsible, was deported. The charges were dropped.
Last year, the state attempted to bring the case against Gutierrez again, but they were unable to find the witness.
RELATED: Valley mother still waiting for justice after son's body was found in a barrel, key witness deported
That prompted Rice to start speaking out about her son's case and the lack of justice around it. She wrote letters to the judge in the case and to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
Earlier this year, Gutierrez was arrested and charged again with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and kidnapping. This time, MCAO said it has located the witness. Gutierrez has pleaded not guilty.
The trial is set to begin next week.
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“It's just hard to believe that I've kind of walked in a fog these last three years," said Colleen Rice. “I'm nervous. I am nervous. I am scared.”
Rice is mentally preparing herself for what will be a painful process. She's planning to be at the trial every day, however, she plans to leave the courtroom when the medical examiner testifies and photographs of her son are shown.
“I think what's going to hit me really is the trial," Rice said. "That's going to decimate me.”
In the final days leading up to the trial, Rice will be at the national conference for Parents of Murdered Children, a group she has turned to since her son's murder. She attends regular meetings in the Valley.
She said she's grateful for the timing of the conference.
“They have all these different classes," Rice said. "They'll have a grief class. They'll have cold case people there."
Rice hopes at the end of the trial justice will be served. She wants Gutierrez sentenced to 20 to 25 years behind bars.
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