Jurors Yet To Reach Verdict In Teen's Case Of Arnesha Bowers' Murder
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- After four days of deliberations, jurors have still yet to decide on a verdict in the case of 15-year-old Raeshawn Rivers. He is accused of murdering his 16-year-old friend, Arnesha Bowers.
Rivers fate hangs in the balance, as jurors continued deliberations inside the Mitchell Courthouse for a fourth day. They indicated Wednesday they were having trouble coming to a unanimous verdict on all counts facing Rivers, whose most serious charge is murder.
It was June of 2015 when Rivers and two men hatched a plot to steal from 16-year-old Arnesha Bowers. But once inside her grandmother's home in Northeast Baltimore, it all went tragically and terribly wrong.
Bowers was beaten, strangled, raped and set on fire. Although Rivers himself did not kill her, jurors have to decide whether he participated in the felony crimes that led to her murder, and thus, is responsible.
Jurors have several taped statements Rivers gave to police, and asked for speakers, presumably to listen to them again during deliberations.
Earlier this week, the judge allowed them to re-listen to the testimony of Adonay Dixon, the 24-year-0ld friend of Rivers who is already serving 50 years in prison for the killing.
Bowers was a promising student at City College High School. The brutality of her murder stunned the city.
Now, a jury is left to decide whether they believe Raeshawn Rivers should also be held responsible for the vicious crime.
Deliberations resume on Friday.
Rivers faces life behind bars if he is convicted of murder.
Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook
