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Jury selection begins for 2nd suspect in Cady Way Trail killings

WINTER PARK, Fla. — The trial for the second suspect in the Cady Way Trail killings began Monday as potential jurors answered questions.

"I have a strong feeling that this defendant is guilty, but you know, I haven't heard the evidence," said a potential juror.

WFTV was in court Friday when Hector Rodriguez backed out of a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for 30 years.

Judge Alan Apte said he wants four alternates for the trial that could run two weeks.

The judge said he's hoping to get a jury seated Monday.

It is not a death penalty case.

Prosecutors said Rodriguez was one of two men who killed Winter Park High School students, Nicholas Presha and Jeremy Stewart, after meeting them about a gun for sale.

However, Rodriguez denies the accusations.

He was set to take a plea deal on Friday. It would have dropped his first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder, and given him 30 years behind bars instead of possibly life in prison if convicted.

But at the last minute, he changed his mind and said he wanted a trial.

Investigators said the teens were tortured, killed, and then their bodies set on fire along the Cady Way Trail.

Jesse Davis pleaded guilty to the killings and is set to testify against Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said Davis dropped him off before the teens were killed and claims he didn't play a role in their deaths.