By Brittany Webb, Sports Editor
Posted 6:52 PM EST, Thurs., Oct. 13, 2016
As the Derrick Rose rape lawsuit trial has begun, the criminal investigation of the case has taken an unexpected turn.
LAPD Detective Nadine Hernandez, 44, one of several detectives involved in the investigation, was found dead in her home in Whittier, California, a city approximately 12 miles east of Los Angeles, Tuesday, October 11.
Hernandez died from a gunshot wound to the chest. It is reported that the death is a result of a suspected suicide.
According to USA Today, LAPD has said there is no evidence of foul play and the investigation is ongoing. The autopsy is scheduled for this week.
Rose and his friends are alleged suspects in a 2013 rape case. In a civil lawsuit, the woman is seeking $21.5 million. The woman is supposedly an ex-girlfriend of Rose with whom he says he was sexually active with over an 18-20 month period.
In an interview with ESPN, Rose said he became suspicious of the woman when she texted him the later in the morning after the alleged rape, declaring she had burns on her body and was inebriated the night before.
“It looked like a setup,” Rose said. “It turned out to be what I thought.”
On Tuesday, October 12, Los Angeles U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald refused to dismiss the lawsuit after Rose’s lawyers argued the alleged victim’s legal team withheld evidence.
The evidence they say was withheld were text messages in the woman’s phone that would have altered the case. Fitzgerald deemed the accusation unworthy of dismissing the trial. Instead, he will allow the defense to question the accusers about the recently disclosed messages.
Despite the trial and investigation occurring in Los Angeles, Rose is said to still be making appearances the New York Knicks’ upcoming preseason games and the season itself when time is not a conflict.
