A murder that happened in 1999 in Punta Gorda has resulted in the conviction of a 46-year-old man. Pilar Rodriguez was killed by Keith Wilson, who has now been convicted of second-degree murder for the death of the four-year-old. According to the State Attorney’s Office, Wilson will be sentenced on Dec. 4th when he will face life in prison. Wilson was dating a woman, Melissa Cooper, who was babysitting Pilar. Cooper, now known as Melissa Harding-Jones testified that Wilson hit Pilar with a closed fist. The girl later died and the body was never found. The case was cold until 2009 when new details surfaced. Harding Jones faces 30 years for her part in the crime.
