Warning: The details of this story are graphic and could be disturbing for some readers.
A Berks County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing a woman, her husband and their baby boy.
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Jose Rodirguez, 61, of Reading, Pennsylvania, entered a negotiated guilty plea for the murders of Geraldina Peguero-Mancebo, 31, Junior Cabrera-Colon, 31, and their 1-year-old son Jeyden Junior Peguero.
Rodriguez was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
On Sept. 12, 2025, around 8:30 p.m., Rodriguez picked up Peguero-Mancebo and her 1-year-old son Jeyden along the 100 block of North 5th Street in Reading.
Rodriguez had a relationship with Peguero-Mancebo and was a co-signer on her lease at her apartment complex. He intended to drive to the area of East Huller Lane in Ontelaunee Township, Pennsylvania, and kill Peguero-Mancebo because she wouldn’t leave her husband to be with him.
Rodriguez shot and killed Peguero-Mancebo in the back of the head. He then drove her baby, Jeyden Peguero, down the street, and threw him into a lake.
A day later, on Sept. 13, Rodriguez got into an altercation with Peguero-Mancebo’s husband, Junior Cabrera-Colon, on the 1500 block of Pear Street in Reading. During the fight, Rodriguez shot and killed Cabrera-Colon.
Later that morning around 6:30 a.m., Reading Police officers who were patrolling the area found Cabrera-Colon’s body in a wooded area near the basketball courts of Baer Park along River Road in Reading.
At the same time, police were searching for Peguero-Mancebo and Jeyden Peguero after they were reported missing.
After police reviewed surveillance video showing Rodriguez’s vehicle near the area where Cabrera-Colon’s body was found, Rodriguez was taken into custody on Sept. 18. He confessed to killing Cabrera-Colon, according to officials. Rodriguez initially told investigators that he shot Cabrera-Colon in self-defense.
A day later, on Sept. 19, around 8:15 p.m., police found Peguero-Mancebo’s body in the area of East Huller Lane in Ontelaunee Township. Then on Sept. 20, at 11:57 a.m., police found her son’s body about 150 yards west from where his mother was found. Officials said the baby was partially submerged in thick mud and water about 10 to 15 feet from the shoreline. He was pronounced dead at 12:10 p.m. that day.
Police then once again interviewed Rodriguez, who was already in custody at the Berks County Prison. During the interview, Rodriguez admitted to killing Peguero-Mancebo and her son because she wouldn’t leave her husband to be with him. He also said he was angry “because she was constantly taking his money,” according to the criminal complaint.
Rodriguez later showed detectives where he had placed Peguero-Mancebo’s purse and cellphone as well as the gun he used to shoot and kill her.
Then on Sept. 29, Rodriguez was charged with the murders of Peguero-Mancebo and Jeyden Peguero.
Prior to Rodriguez’s guilty plea and sentencing, officials had said they were considering pursuing the death penalty. They also said Rodriguez had no criminal record prior to his arrest.
Jose Rodriguez, 61, was charged with three counts of murder, abuse of corpse and other related offenses in the deaths of Geraldina Peguero-Mancebo, 31, Junior Cabrera-Colon, 31, and their 1-year-old son Jeyden Junior Peguero. NBC10’s Brian Sheehan has the story.