Lancaster Woman’s Killer Given 70 Years to Life
An ex-convict from Lancaster was sentenced Friday in Santa Ana to 70 years to life in prison for shooting a woman to death in a car in Irvine.
An Orange County Superior Court jury convicted David B. Rodgers, 40, of second-degree murder Feb. 2 in the death of Jeanie Waterson-Wheeler, 44, also of Lancaster, whom he had been dating.
Prosecutors said Rodgers was on a methamphetamine binge when he shot Waterson-Wheeler on Dec. 22, 2002, as they sat in the car waiting for a traffic light. The woman had done nothing to provoke Rodgers, Deputy Dist. Atty. Matt Murphy said.
Police said at least five people witnessed the shooting, which occurred across the street from Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center.
After his arrest, Rodgers was treated for a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the ankle.
Rodgers’ attorney had argued that jurors should convict him of manslaughter because the attack occurred “in the heat of passion.”
Rodgers had previous convictions for child molestation and armed robbery.
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