Ventura woman accused of killing her aunt in 2009 given prison sentence

Gina Drake, the Ventura woman accused of killing her aunt in 2009, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Thursday.

Earlier this year, Drake pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of 61-year-old swing dance instructor, therapist and author Wendy DiRodio.

DiRodio’s body was discovered on June 3, 2009, in her parent’s Ventura Key’s home with multiple stab wounds. Di Rodio’s niece Gina Drake, who was married to a Ventura police office at the time, became a prime suspect. The officer helped investigators before her arrest and before their divorce.

Criminal charges were filed against Drake in May 2012.