Immediately before opening statements were set to begin in his murder trial, Rodney Fray, 39, of the 1800 block of E. Pratt St. [pleaded] guilty to second-degree murder today. Judge Paul Smith sentenced Fray to 30 years in prison, suspending all but 15 years, and five years probation.
On July 7, 2007 at 3:36AM paramedics responded to 817 St. Paul Street Apartment 804 and observed the victim Ashley Bellosi, 23, lying on the bedroom floor inside of her apartment. Bellosi was unconscious and suffering from numerous injuries to the head, neck, torso, and limbs. She was transported to Shock Trauma in critical condition and on July 11, 2007 Bellosi died as a result of her injuries. On July 12, 2007 OCME performed an autopsy on the victim and determined that the cause of death was homicide and the manner of death was blunt force trauma to the victim’s head. A witness positively identified Fray as being the person who fought with the victim and caused her injuries. Fray was Bellosi’s boyfriend and had recently moved into her apartment. After being arrested and read his Miranda rights Fray gave a taped statement admitting to fighting with the victim in the victim’s apartment.
Assistant State’s Attorney Joshua Felsen of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.