WORCESTER, Mass. - William Rodriguez, 59, was facing two counts of armed assault to murder, but those charges have been upgraded to murder according to his defense attorney. 

Police say Rodriguez stabbed Ana Maria Martinez, 58, and her mother, Sergia Acosta, 76, in a Worcester apartment last month.

Rodriguez was in the courtroom just hours after both Martinez and Acosta were laid to rest. He pleaded not guilty after being arrested in New York City last week as a person of interest. Court documents say Rodriguez was seen on surveillance video entering and exiting the Webster Square Towers, and was the last person inside until 911 was called.

Rodriguez had previously served time in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing death of his wife in 2004. He was released in 2019. 

Family members gathered in front of the courthouse Friday afternoon. One of them said Martinez met Rodriguez at a local church and became friends. But when she didn't want to further the relationship, things escalated. 

Here's how she described seeing the man accused of killing her family members.

"He looks evil, very evil," said relative Genesis Berrios. "It's very difficult. We're very shattered. We've been crying a lot, but leaning on each other. We will get justice. All of us came. All family and friends. And he had to face us. And we're just very, very happy for the support we keep getting."

Rodriguez is being held without bail scheduled to be back in court in October.

Spectrum News 1 spoke to a domestic violence expert on how to prevent a situation from reaching an extreme level. The director of the YWCA's domestic violence services, Tara Huard, says prevention is crucial, saying things can start out with verbal abuse before escalating to something physical.

"Sometimes the verbal abuse can be very discreet," Huard said. "It might not be so blatant that you're realizing it's verbal abuse. So they're not calling you a name, but it could be other little comments about how you look. But they do it in such a way that it makes it sound like they're trying to help you. They're trying to give you a feedback, but it can lead to more increased behaviors and more volatile situations."

Huard says if you or anyone you know needs help in a relationship, the YWCA's helpline is confidential and operates 24/7. That number is 508-755-9030.