Where Is Rogelio Morales Now? Details About the American Monster Subject Explored

Episode 9 of American Monster Season 10, titled, Something About Him, released on August 11 and delved into the horrifying murder of Margarita Sanchez Lemus, which happened back in April 2015. The incident, which occurred in Sioux City, Iowa, shocked the entire community and was a result of a domestic escalation.

Lemus had been married to Rogelio Morales, another Iowa resident, and the couple had a son named Christian. However, after an argument between the two, things escalated and later Margarita Sanchez was eventually found strangled in her car. The resulting investigation led to a range of harrowing details being revealed, as Rogelio was eventually convicted and sentenced to prison for a period of 50 years.

Morales is currently serving the sentence in the Clarinda Correctional Facility in Clarinda and will be eligible for parole only in 2039.

Where is Rogelio Morales now?

Rogelio was the prime suspect right from the beginning of the investigation, as during the initial questioning he admitted to having been involved in a heated argument with Margarita. Morales had claimed that Margarita wanted a divorce from him as she had been ‘seeing someone else,’ something which initially led to his temper flaring.

After a winding argument, he eventually lost control and claimed that he had blacked out. This initial confession led to his arrest and further investigation revealed a history of abuse and controlling behavior. Margarita’s sister, Moniza Terriquez, revealed that Morales had assaulted her sister at her home as well, and claimed to be privy to a pattern of abuse and jealousy.

Further, investigations revealed that Margarita was in a relationship with Jesse Morey, a former co-worker who claimed Lopez had told him she wanted to divorce her husband. Morey also claimed that no sexual involvement had occurred between him and Lopez and that Rogelio had contacted him on the night of the murder.

Regardless, Morales was eventually tried in June 2017. The trial saw the prosecution come up with a range of evidence regarding his abusive behavior and history. It also included a handwritten letter from Morales in which he was seen apologizing for his past actions.

Morales, a military veteran, had claimed that he was a victim of PTSD, which eventually led to the violent outburst. Still, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and he was speedily convicted.

Rogelio needs to finish 70% of his 50-year sentence before being eligible for parole, which will happen only in 2039. Regardless, the trial itself saw Morales come to terms with his crimes, as he expressed remorse for his outburst and eventual actions.

Regardless, as mentioned above, he is currently in prison and has been serving his sentence since June 2017. He will be eligible for parole in 2039, which will depend on a range of other factors, including his behavior in lockup.

The conviction in itself happened due to a variety of reasons. Rogelio was considered dangerous for his child, Christian, as well as Jesse Morey, who he had warned on the night of the murder. The nature of the crime played a huge role as well, with Margarita being found strangled to death inside her car, while their infant son slept in the back seat.

The car itself was found parked in block 2200 in Floyd Boulevard, Sioux City, as Morales had effectively left his young child with the body of his mother.

Regardless, the episode went into detail about a range of aspects of the overall murder and the trial that followed. It revealed a range of details about the kind of life Margarita Sanchez led, and also included interviews from some of the jury members.

Catch this episode of American Monster on Investigation Discovery.