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Jury recommends death penalty for Joshua Rocha in murder of North Kansas City police officer

Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson discussed the Joshua Rocha case and sentencing
Jury recommends death penalty for Joshua Rocha in murder of NKC police officer
Joshua Rocha
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LIBERTY, Mo. — A St. Charles-based jury recommended Joshua Rocha be sentenced to death for the 2022 murder of North Kansas City Police Ofc. Daniel Vasquez.

Jurors needed less than a day to deliberate on the sentencing, in which they were tasked with determining whether Rocha would serve the rest of his life in prison or face the death penalty.

A Clay County Circuit Court judge set a Nov. 24, 2025, date for formal sentencing.

Rocha admitted to killing Vasquez during a traffic stop in 2022.

Earlier this month, jurors found Rocha guilty of first-degree murder.

This is a developing story and will be updated.