NC - Veronica Lee Baker, 17, fatally shot in parked car outside restaurant, Raleigh, 15 Aug 2020

[Clair Louise]

dbm

I have a friend who was going to buy one of those high end handbags from a knock off site in China for several hundred dollars.
She claimed it was a superior knock off and looked just like the real thing. A fake is a fake to my mind.

 

[stormymama]

We had another Wake County murder of a 17-year-old female this summer and I have yet to find a source that even gives her name. Yet her suspected killer has yet to be found and or arrested. Strange.

I guess the more high profile cases get the most media attention and more information is sleuthed.

Snipped by me.

Yes! The murder in Apex. Terrifying.

 

[Marg from Oz]

So what sentence would the 17 year old get as a juvenile ? Do they go to Juvenile detention until they are 21 and then get released or would he be charged as an adult?

 

[Mind your biscuits]

So what sentence would the 17 year old get as a juvenile ? Do they go to Juvenile detention until they are 21 and then get released or would he be charged as an adult?

IANAL but I think that anytime you commit a robbery with a weapon that results in death, that will be a long sentence. If the 17 yo gets convicted he will head to adult prison at 18 I believe. Moo.

 

[JMapes]

So what sentence would the 17 year old get as a juvenile ? Do they go to Juvenile detention until they are 21 and then get released or would he be charged as an adult?

Anyone 14 years and older can be tried as an adult for serious crimes in the US.

However, until recently, North Carolina was the only state in the US where juveniles as young as 16 could be automatically prosecuted as adults. Lawmakers approved a “Raise the Age” law in 2017, which increased that minimum age from 16 to 18. All juvenile prosecutions start in juvenile court.

But there is one caveat- Juvenile courts must transfer jurisdiction to adult criminal courts if the defendant allegedly committed a Class A felony (first-degree murder).

 

[borndem]

Snipped by me.

Yes! The murder in Apex. Terrifying.

Is it on Websleuths?

 

[borndem]

So what sentence would the 17 year old get as a juvenile ? Do they go to Juvenile detention until they are 21 and then get released or would he be charged as an adult?

Here is what the NC Statutes say with respect to LWOP and a person under 18 years of age. In short, it says that mitigating and aggravating circumstances may be presented and the Judge will make a decision based on arguments presented.
To wit:
------------------------------------------------------
15A-1340.19A. Applicability.

Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 14-17, a defendant who is convicted of first degree murder, and who was under the age of 18 at the time of the offense, shall be sentenced in accordance with this Part. For the purposes of this Part, "life imprisonment with parole" shall mean that the defendant shall serve a minimum of 25 years imprisonment prior to becoming eligible for parole. (2012-148, s. 1.)
§ 15A-1340.19B. Penalty determination.
(a) In determining a sentence under this Part, the court shall do one of the following:
(1) If the sole basis for conviction of a count or each count of first degree murder was the felony murder rule, then the court shall sentence the defendant to life imprisonment with parole.
(2) If the court does not sentence the defendant pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, then the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, as set forth in G.S. 14-17, or a lesser sentence of life imprisonment with parole.
(b) The hearing under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section shall be conducted by the trial judge as soon as practicable after the guilty verdict is returned. The State and the defendant shall not be required to resubmit evidence presented during the guilt determination phase of the case. Evidence, including evidence in rebuttal, may be presented as to any matter that the court deems relevant to sentencing, and any evidence which the court deems to have probative value may be received.
(c) The defendant or the defendant's counsel may submit mitigating circumstances to the court, including, but not limited to, the following factors:
(1) Age at the time of the offense.
(2) Immaturity.
(3) Ability to appreciate the risks and consequences of the conduct.
(4) Intellectual capacity.
(5) Prior record.
(6) Mental health.
(7) Familial or peer pressure exerted upon the defendant.
(8) Likelihood that the defendant would benefit from rehabilitation in confinement.
(9) Any other mitigating factor or circumstance.
(d) The State and the defendant or the defendant's counsel shall be permitted to present argument for or against the sentence of life imprisonment with parole. The defendant or the defendant's counsel shall have the right to the last argument.
(e) The provisions of Article 58 of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes apply to proceedings under this Part. (2012-148, s. 1.)

Sources:
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_15A/GS_15A-1340.19A.html
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_15A/GS_15A-1340.19B.html

 

[Knitty]

Snipped by me.

Yes! The murder in Apex. Terrifying.

Well that's horrible. While her parents were asleep. They've got an arrest warrant for the man they believe murdered her, they say he knows her but don't say how. Weird they haven't released her name or much more than an article saying the perp is armed and dangerous.

 

[stormymama]

Is it on Websleuths?

Not that I’ve seen. No victim or suspect name to search.

 

[Knitty]

Not that I’ve seen. No victim or suspect name to search.

Wake County Sheriff's Office identifies suspect sought in killing of teen at Apex home

 

[Clair Louise]

Wake County Sheriff's Office identifies suspect sought in killing of teen at Apex home

Another male who could not handle a female not wanting him?

 

[borndem]

Well that's horrible. While her parents were asleep. They've got an arrest warrant for the man they believe murdered her, they say he knows her but don't say how. Weird they haven't released her name or much more than an article saying the perp is armed and dangerous.

bbm
Yes, it is weird -- not naming the victim is not a usual or standard thing for reporting this type of thing in NC, or really anywhere else I've sleuthed. Maybe it's the child of an elected official or someone in LE or the Court system???

 

[stormymama]

Wake County Sheriff's Office identifies suspect sought in killing of teen at Apex home

Thank you for sharing. I didn’t realize a suspect was named!

 

[MimosaMornings]

https://www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com/obits/obituaries/veronica-lee-baker/


Community grieves at funeral for 17-year-old killed outside Bojangles :: WRAL.com

 

[borndem]

Not that I’ve seen. No victim or suspect name to search.

Same here -- tried a couple of words, but no luck. Will try again!

I just looked at the local MSM, and nothing new is there -- no victim name, and no report of the suspect being caught. No reason given in what I've seen to explain why her name or her family's name has not been reported. Anybody's guess.
I'll keep an eye on it... It's still a bit odd, IMO. This type thing is not "normal" reporting for our several local MSM sources.

 

[tresir2012]

So why call it a $600 handbag if it did not cost $600 and you could buy it in an op shop for cents on the dollar. That seems to me to be a strange thing to say.

The father called it that. From the link:

"Deans also faced charges in an unrelated case — financial card fraud, financial card theft and conspiracy to commit the fraud. According to warrants, that conspiracy also involved DJ, the man accused of killing Baker.

Baker's parents have said they believe she was robbed. They said Baker was carrying a $600 Gucci purse when she was murdered."

Perhaps the purse was stolen by the murderers? They have video of the incident which is clearly how they caught them so quickly.

Here's an additional link.

Four Arrested In Slaying Of 17-Year-Old Girl Found Dead In Bojangles Parking Lot

"A motive in the slaying hasn’t been released by authorities. Baker and the unnamed juvenile suspect were known to each other, a spokesperson for the Raleigh Police Department confirmed.

Raleigh Police Department declined to comment further.

Baker’s friends previously memorialized her on social media.

“One of my friends Veronica Baker is dead,” Lamont Whitaker wrote on Facebook. “She was a good worker and a better friend. I enjoyed every convo we had and she made me laugh. Love you Veronica. I'll miss you forever.”

The unnamed murder suspect, as well as Deans, Collins, and Rogers were expected to appear in court on Wednesday, officials said.

Deans is facing a slew of other charges from past incidents including financial card theft, financial card fraud, obtaining property by false pretense, possession of stolen goods, and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, additional online jail recordsalso show. Her bond on the murder accessory charge has been set at $1,000,000. "

 

[borndem]

The father called it that. From the link:

"Deans also faced charges in an unrelated case — financial card fraud, financial card theft and conspiracy to commit the fraud. According to warrants, that conspiracy also involved DJ, the man accused of killing Baker.

>>>> snipped by borndem for space <<<<

Deans is facing a slew of other charges from past incidents including financial card theft, financial card fraud, obtaining property by false pretense, possession of stolen goods, and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, additional online jail recordsalso show. Her bond on the murder accessory charge has been set at $1,000,000."

bbm
Ouch!!! She's in a heap of trouble. SMH.
What came over them?

 

[borndem]

Here are Deans' charges (not convictions) according to the Wake County Sheriff's Office, and a look at possible sentencing for accessory after the fact to the murder:
--------------------------------------------
rbbm
Name:
DEANS, KEYSHARA MICHELLE
Age:
19 YEARS OLD
Race / Sex: BLACK / FEMALE
Arrest Date: 8/18/2020
Release Date:
Next Court Date: 9/8/2020

SECURE BOND $0.0
Charge Status Docket # Bond Amount
FINANCIAL CARD THEFT AWAITING TRIAL 20CR211919 SECURE BOND $0.00

FINANCIAL CARD THEFT AWAITING TRIAL 20CR212645 SECURE BOND $0.00

ATT OBTAIN PROP FALSE PRETENSE AWAITING TRIAL 20CR211919 SECURE BOND $15,000.00

ATT OBTAIN PROP FALSE PRETENSE AWAITING TRIAL 20CR212643 SECURE BOND $25,000.00

FINANCIAL CARD FRAUD (M) AWAITING TRIAL 20CR211918 SECURE BOND $0.00

CONSP OBTAIN PROP FALSE PRET AWAITING TRIAL 20CR212644 SECURE BOND $0.00

POSS STOLEN GOODS/PROP (M) AWAITING TRIAL 20CR211919 SECURE BOND $0.00

OBTAIN PROPERTY FALSE PRETENSE AWAITING TRIAL 20CR212645 SECURE BOND $0.00

ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT (F) AWAITING TRIAL 20CR212600 SECURE BOND $1,000,000.00

CONTRIBUTING DEL OF JUVENILE AWAITING TRIAL 20CR212643 SECURE BOND $0.00

CONTRIBUTING DEL OF JUVENILE AWAITING TRIAL 20CR212644 SECURE BOND $0.00

CONTRIBUTING DEL OF JUVENILE AWAITING TRIAL 20CR211918 SECURE BOND $0.00

MISDEMEANOR CONSPIRACY AWAITING TRIAL 20CR211918
-----------------------------------
Source:
Wake County Sheriff's Office P2C
----------------------------------

"Accessory After the Fact" - from the NC Statutes:
rbm

§ 14-7. Accessories after the fact; trial and punishment.

If any person shall become an accessory after the fact to any felony, whether the same be a felony at common law or by virtue of any statute made, or to be made, such person shall be guilty of a crime, and may be indicted and convicted together with the principal felon, or after the conviction of the principal felon, or may be indicted and convicted for such crime whether the principal felon shall or shall not have been previously convicted, or shall or shall not be amenable to justice. Unless a different classification is expressly stated, that person shall be punished for an offense that is two classes lower than the felony the principal felon committed, except that an accessory after the fact to a Class A or Class B1 felony is a Class C felony, an accessory after the fact to a Class B2 felony is a Class D felony, an accessory after the fact to a Class H felony is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and an accessory after the fact to a Class I felony is a Class 2 misdemeanor. The offense of such person may be inquired of, tried, determined and punished by any court which shall have jurisdiction of the principal felon, in the same manner as if the act, by reason whereof such person shall have become an accessory, had been committed at the same place as the principal felony, although such act may have been committed without the limits of the State; and in case the principal felony shall have been committed within the body of any county, and the act by reason whereof any person shall have become accessory shall have been committed within the body of any other county, the offense of such person guilty of a felony as aforesaid may be inquired of, tried, determined, and punished in either of said counties: Provided, that no person who shall be once duly tried for such felony shall be again indicted or tried for the same offense. (1797, c. 485, s. 1, P.R.; 1852, c. 58; R.C., c. 34, s. 54; Code, s. 978; Rev., s. 3289; C.S., s. 4177; 1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 63, s. 1; c. 179, s. 14; 1997-443, s. 19.25(p).)
------------------------------------
Source:
§ 14-7
------------------------------------
Here is the Class C Felony sentencing guidelines for NC --

Class C Felony under NC Structured Sentencing:
-- Minimum is 44 -- 92 months for those with no prior convictions (no "Penalty Points")
-- Next point rank is 50 -- 104 months
-- Next point rank is 58 -- 120 months
-- Next point rank is 66 -- 138 months
-- Next point rank is 76 -- 159 months
and there are a few more higher ranks-- she probably wouldn't have that many convictions (IMO)
--------------------
from:
Structured Sentencing in North Carolina | How Much Time Am I Looking At? - The Law Offices Of J. Scott Smith, PLLC

 

[borndem]

Just did a bit of checking on this case since I'm local, but I didn't see anything new.
I'll keep checking, and maybe someone else could, too! Other than the typical jousting and proposals, other more minor things that have to be done judicially, we are beginning our typical Long Wait.
There could be pleas -- who knoze, so I'll keep my eyes open and my computer searching...
Oh, that sweet young girl and her grieving parents...

 

[borndem]

Today is Veronica's birthday. She would have been 18 years old. She was ready to go to Wake County Community College, and she was very excited about that new phase of her young life.
What a loss for so many people.

And those who had to do with her death are in 'way more trouble than they thought would happen.
No winners here, as we see so, so often.