Mom: Son should get slain dad's reward

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PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- A Philadelphia woman says her young son is entitled to the reward money his father earned by helping police catch a killer known as the Kensington Strangler.

Antonio Rodriguez was arrested in early 2007, a few minutes after the informant called a police tipline to say where he was. A few months later, the informant, identified by the Philadelphia Daily News only as Oscar, was dead himself, in a killing that might have been related to his snitching or to his own brushes with the law as a drug user.

As a reminder of the brutal code of the streets in Philadelphia, a woman who witnessed Oscar's killing was slain a few months later.

Oscar's girlfriend told the News she is getting the runaround from city officials. The newpaper used pseudonyms for Cheryl, Oscar and their families to protect Cheryl and her son.

Oscar was paid $7,000 after Rodriguez, who was charged with killing three women, was arrested. He was told he would get $30,000 more after a conviction.

Cheryl said Oscar wanted the money for their son.

"I think it's a disgrace," Cheryl said. "The city wonders why people don't turn people in. I just want someone to return my phone calls."

A man who answered the phone at the Citizens Crime Commission said rewards are not "hereditary" and go only to the person who earned them. He said some of the money is being returned to the family of Rodriguez's first victim.

Cheryl said she is willing to have the money put in trust for her son.