Cops: Mom in Md. slayings probably alive

A woman whose children are believed to have been slain by their father in March is probably alive and could be in the United States or in Central America, the lead investigator said Monday.

Unconfirmed sightings have placed Deysi Benitez, 25, in the U.S., Honduras and El Salvador since she was last seen March 18 outside the family's Frederick townhouse, Lt. Thomas Chase said. Benitez is on the FBI's list of missing persons.

"Until we find her deceased, the focus of the investigation is to consider the fact that she is alive," Chase said.

On March 26, the bodies of her husband, Pedro Rodriguez, 28, and children were found in the townhouse in the western Maryland town.

Chase said police believe that Rodriguez killed the children and then hanged himself. Chase had previously refused to name Rodriguez as the likely killer because investigators hadn't spoken with Benitez.

Chase said investigators concluded "from the moment we started the investigation" that Rodriguez had killed their daughters Elsa, 9; Vanessa, 4; Carena, 1; and their son, Angel, 3. The girls were suffocated and the boy died of head injuries, authorities said.

Chase said the condition in which the bodies were found _ in bed, covered head to toe in sheets and blankets _ was consistent with other investigations in which fathers killed their children.

Rodriguez, Benitez and Elsa were natives of El Salvador who emigrated legally about six years ago. The three other children were born in the U.S.

Relatives and co-workers have said that the family struggled with language and financial problems and that the marriage was troubled. Rodriguez learned March 15 that he would lose his factory job at a door-manufacturing plant scheduled to close in July. Benitez worked in a restaurant kitchen.