Clinton, MA: Family: Man who killed Clinton woman was 'a monster'

By Kathy Uek/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Sep 25, 2009 @ 01:00 AM
Trapped in a cycle of domestic violence, Giselle Rodriguez tried many times to escape the abusive relationship with the "monster" who eventually killed her, family members said.

Rodriguez, a former Marlborough resident, finally did leave her abuser, Alexander Skowran, three months ago. But Rodriguez's sister-in-law believes he became jealous of a MySpace posting about Rodriguez's new boyfriend, then waited in her apartment, where police say he killed her Monday.

Authorities tracked Skowran to a Virginia motel, where he shot and killed himself.

"(Skowran) beat her before strangling her with a wire from a cable he had taken from a bike downstairs from her apartment," said her brother, Luis Rodriguez of Marlborough.

About two years ago, after Rodriguez had lost a baby, gone through a divorce and lost her home, the 23-year-old began dating Skowran.

"When people are vulnerable, they are less likely to have their radar up," said Mary Gianakis, director of Voices Against Violence in Framingham and a board member and incoming president of Jane Doe Inc.

Voices Against Violence is one of the 60-member organizations of Jane Doe Inc., a statewide coalition against sexual abuse and domestic violence.

"She was blinded by him," said her sister-in-law Crystal Henning of Marlborough. "He was really good to her one minute and the next, he was horrible."

"In domestic abuse, there is a constant process of chipping away at their sense of self-worth," said Gianakis.

Skowran manipulated and controlled her, said her brother. "There were certain clothes he didn't want her to wear. He was a monster. He was sick."

After Rodriguez first attempted to leave seven months ago, Skowran poured bleach on her clothes, threw detergent on her walls and electronics and stole a prized memory box. Determined, Rodriguez took out a restraining order.

Again he charmed her. She dropped the restraining order and returned to him. During the vicious cycle, Skowran even complained about Rodriguez's pregnancy with her former husband. "That was way before she even met him."

Rodriguez, a 2004 Keefe Technical High School honors graduate, went to MassBay Community College. She dreamed of becoming a lawyer.

Graduating three months ago, she worked as a paralegal at Hologic, a health care company in Marlborough.

Henning believes it was the last entry Rodriguez made on MySpace.com that precipitated the murder. The message: She was watching the Patriots game with Kenny, her new boyfriend.

After entering her apartment the day of the murder with a key he promised to return, Skowran logged on to her computer.

"I think he saw that and waited for her at night," said Henning.

Now the family grieves. Josefina Rivera thinks of the daughter she called princess. "She was smart and wanted to be somebody," said Rivera.

"By the time she was 14, she already had a job," said her brother. "She was pretty much the best future in our family."

They think of the good changes in Rodriguez after she left Skowran.

"She was getting her happiness back," he said. "She was coming back to life and smiling a lot more. Before, she was always like in prison with him."

Luis Rodriguez learned a lesson from the tragedy. "Be aware of who family members are involved with."

Toni Troop, a spokeswoman for Jane Doe Inc., agreed. "We encourage family and friends to learn more about the issues and reach out in a non-judgmental, supportive way," said Troop.

For information on domestic violence, visit janedoe.org. For those in an abusive relationship, call Voices Against Violence's 24-hour hot line at 800-593-1125 or call the statewide 24-hour hotline at 877-785-2020.

Missing Ex-Boyfriend Suspect In Woman's Murder


A 23-year-old woman is dead and now police in Clinton are looking for the suspect – her ex-boyfriend.

Giselle Rodriguez, a former Fitchburg State College student, was found dead at 1 Coolidge Place shortly before 11 a.m. on Monday.

She was discovered by police after a family member asked them to perform a wellness check.

Now police are looking for her ex-boyfriend, Alexander Skowran, 22 – a senior at Fitchburg State.

It is not clear how Rodriguez died, but police say she did have an active restraining order out against Skowran.

Officials are now looking for Skowran. He is said to be driving a black 2003 Honda Accord with Maryland plate number 8DXX66.

Skowran is originally from Pasadena, Md.