Jaime Rodriguez Jr & Augustin Pena featuring Almost Made the Mix Tape

In this episode, we dig into the tragic and infuriating case of Jaime Rodriguez Jr., a young Michigan man whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence. What begins as a night out quickly spirals into a deadly confrontation, leaving Jaime’s family searching for answers and justice.

We walk through the events leading up to the murder, the investigation that followed, and the case against Augustin Peña, the man accused of taking Jaime’s life. From witness accounts to courtroom twists, we break down how the story unfolded and the impact it left on the community.

To close things out on a lighter note, we feature Michigan artist Almost Made the Mix Tape with their track 

song title:  Fake It

Bandcamp: https://almostmadethemixtape.bandcamp.com/

Facebook:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@almostmadethemixtape1366

Feeling Tipsy???
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theboots

Merch:
https://michigan-murders-music.myspreadshop.com/

Transcript

Jaime Rodriguez Jr

MDOC # 218150

Date of Birth  August 16, 1968

Resides at Kinkross

Augustin Pena  

Born February 7, 1982

Served 30 years in prison

When Jamie was 18 years old, his mother committed suicide.  It was August 30, 1987 and she shot herself inside their home (Saginaw) and later died at St Lukes hospital.

Jamie lost his cool when she passed away and was arrested at the hospital for disorderly conduct.

Jaimie did not complete high school, he dropped out of Arthur Hill High in Saginaw during his 10th year.

It seems as though everything just went downhill for him from there.

Jaime Rodriquez Jr was very active with the law in the late 80’s.

His record on Otis shows:

May 21, 1989 was charged with the attempted burning of a house or dwelling.  He was sentenced on September 13, 1991 and was discharged from jail for that crime on November 19, 1994.  Serving the minimum sentence 3  of the 5 years. 

On June 17, 1990 he was charged for both extortion and unlawfully driving away an automobile.  

Lil cousin Augstine Pena, Lil Pena… he also had a record, only he’s FIFTEEN so it’s juvenile court.

May 19, 1990 He was arrested by the Sterling Heights police when they found marijuana and a knife on him.  He was charged with possession of a concealed weapon and controlled substance.

June 21, 1990 the Warren police department nabbed him because he threatened a female (didn’t hurt her) with a weapon.  He was charged:  assault with a dangerous weapon without intent to commit bodily harm.

On both occasions, he was released to the care of his mother with a court date for the first offense set August 9, 1990.

Jaime admittedly lost his faith in god stating “god gave up on me so i gave up on him and went out and found a new god one that would love me.

That new god, so to speak, was satan.  Yeah, Satan.  

Jaime admits that he was into different gods that the normal American is (our words, not his)

The media back then was all about Satanic Panic and this story is perfect for the picking.

•  ”Occult materials” stated the Muskegon Chronical
•   “A 15 year old Warren youth with an interest in satanism and drugs”  The Detroit Free Press  in that same article they say that lil Pena recently purchased witchcraft books.  One called the complete book of witchcraft and another on how to cast spells.

At the time of this story, Jaime aka Jimbo is making a few bucks by tattooing people out of the home and was just 21 years old.

He is basically not working, he has two kids, has been divorced and is living with his father.

Augustine Pena was attending school, at North Intermediate School in Saginaw having just finished the 8th grade requirements.

He and his lil cousin, Augustine, often hung out together.  In fact, Augustine’s mother, Miss Betty Stasiak rented a nice lil home in a quiet neighborhood, but when she went out of town, lil Pena partied.

During the time that these two were in their partying mode, a young lady went

 missing from the area.

Her name was Stephanie DuBay and she was reported missing on June 26, 1990 and she was merely 15 years old.

Stephanie was truly a good kid, she just had a bit of wanderlust and well, she was a teenage girl.  She came from a split home and was living with her mother at the time she went missing.

It was told in the July 16, 1990 edition of the Bay City Times that Stephanie briefly stahyed at  lil Pena’s (mom’s) home when she ran away.

July 11, 1990 the two of them:  Jaime and Lil Pena were hanging out at the kitchen table that Wednesday morning when Lil Pena suggested to his elder cuz:

    Pena:   Let’s kill Steph

    Jaime:  You serious?
    Pena:  Yeah

    Jaime:  Ok!

The two of them went to the basement of his mom’s rental home and started putting  newspapers down on the floor to contain the mess.

Pena went upstairs, woke up the young lady and just took her into the basement.

Jaime stated that he held the young lady by the neck while Lil Pena stabbed her.

The 15-year-old girl was stabbed 10 times on the back & side

her right index finger was cut off, 

her tongue and spleen were removed. 

Her head was carefully detached then

skinned and then carefully placed in a freezer to show off to friends later.

“Really nobody decided to dismember her, we just read each other's mind and went for it.”  Jaime was quoted saying to The Detroit News in a phone interview that he held with them from jail.

Two girls, who were friends with him, came over to give him a haircut…and he decided he would show off the skinned head of another young lady to her.

Jamie said, “We smoked a cigarette and I went to the freezer and got it.  It was still warm.”

The girls casually finished their visit but when they left, they snuck the evidence out with them.

In a bag, they carried it directly into the Macomb Police Department.

These girls are fucking hero’s.  I am flabbergasted by their bravery.

The officers went to Lil Pena’s house and arrested them.  Lil Pena was hiding in the attic.

Jamie just spewed out everything right away.  

Officers discovered four bags of body parts buried in the backyard and one stuffed in a car in the garage

A hammer was found in the basement covered in blood, that would be printed, the prints identifying as Lil Pena prints.

The medical examiner testified that she died from manual strangulation.  There were extensive injuries to her neck and internal damage consistent with significant force being applied to her body.

At the prelim hearing the judge ordered Lil Pena to be moved from the Macomb county youth home to the county jail.  Where his cousin was already being held.

It was also decided that due to the horrendous acts that took place after the murder that Lil Pena would be tried as an adult.

When Lil Pena was being cuffed and taken out of the court room an anonymous family member said, “I love you.” and was instantly responded to by another anonymous member in the court room, “What about the little girl.” and Lil Pena’s relative replied, “I love her too!  Do you know what happened? I don’t know what happened.”  She was sobbing. 

Pena was tried as an adult in a court by a jury of his peers and convicted of

   First degree premeditated murder

   First degree felony murder

   First degree criminal sexual conduct

Jaime Rodriguz Jr  

    First degree premeditated murder

    First degree felony murder

    First degree criminal sexual conduct

    Mutilation of a dead body

Also by a jury of his peers and sentenced to life in prison, where he remains.

When asked why he took a finger to keep around his neck, it seems Jaime finally did not want to share something.

“I wanted a finger for a charm, to wear around my neck.  It has something to do with my religious beliefs, but not really. It’s something else really, that I don’t want to talk about.”

NOW:   after the juvenile court decisions

In 2020… at 38 years of age and 30 years after his sentencing to life in prison, 45 year old Lil Pena is having his time in court as a not so lil Pena due to the juvenile laws being turned around. (2012)

Judge James Maceroni basically said that Big Pena is the poster child for this movement.  

1.  Due to his lack of brain development at the time
2. Susceptibility to the influence of others
3. Outstanding prison record 

Pena taught “spiritual guidance and education” to fellow inmates for 17 years, mentored young inmates for several years 

taught a class called “chance for life,” 

Pena worked in prison as a transcriber for the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund and wants to be able to continue working for the organization afterward. 

“All of my efforts to best myself and positively influence others is only my attempt to live these two words – I’m sorry,”  Pena said.

Pena did read an apology letter to his victim and her family who watched via youtube.  THey still have to go through the absolute horror of the situation.

Despite all the bullshit I spew from my mouth, I guess what is our justice system if it's not for moments like this?